The “Pygmalion effect,” also known as the “Rosenthal effect” after the psychologist who is credited with its discovery, is a theory that states that people will act or behave in the manner in which others expect them to. It’s a lot like the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The effect can have both positive and negative consequences: a person who is expected to succeed his or her superiors is more likely to succeed, but the opposite is also often true. The majority of the time, these expectations are not discussed openly. They are passively communicated through word choice and body language. The effect is most commonly associated with education and the workplace, but it can also affect individuals.
Mythology and Literature Origins
The cause of the effect, as well as the subsequent psychological training, can be traced back to Greek mythology. Pygmalion was a prince of Cyprus and a sculptor who created and fell in love with an ivory statue of his ideal woman, according to legend. He begged the goddess Venus to give his creation life, and she agreed. Pygmalion married the woman who resulted, and they lived happily ever after. He had expected the statue to be flawless in every way, and when she came to life, she did not disappoint.
In his popular play Pygmalion, which served as the inspiration for the perhaps more well-known My Fair Lady, English playwright George Bernard Shaw expanded on this idea. A genteel professor transforms a low-class Cockney woman into a lady fit for society in these dramas, primarily believing in her and expecting the best from her.
In the field of education
The Pygmalion effect in the classroom has been studied extensively. Teachers who are told that certain students are more likely to excel and achieve than other students in the class frequently find that those students do indeed perform better — even if they are not objectively disadvantaged. Even when teachers try not to communicate their beliefs or expectations for specific students, those expectations, whatever they are, have a lot of clout.
Many psychologists believe that teachers do communicate their expectations to their students, even if neither the teachers nor the students are aware of it. When it comes to conveying both positive and negative expectations, body language is just as important as verbal communication. Body language is most often a subconscious form of communication, but it can be extremely effective. Nonverbal signals elicit a subconscious response and interpretation that lasts a long time, especially when it comes to one person’s expectations of another.
In the Business World
In the workplace, the Pygmalion effect plays an important role. Employees’ work and success can often be influenced managers, bosses, and corporate superiors who expect them to rise or fall. These expectations, like those in school, never have to be stated explicitly in order to take root.
Self-Awareness
The concept also includes the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to self-perception. A person who believes he is worthless or has other negative beliefs about his abilities and qualities is likely to achieve his goals. He will never reach his full potential because he will limit himself to his own self-imposed boundaries. People with a positive self-image and the belief that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to are more likely to succeed.
Use in a Strategic Way
Individual patients, teachers, and business leaders are frequently taught how to use the Pygmalion effect strategically to encourage success and positive thinking. According to the theory, forcing oneself to set high expectations for others can actually help drive achievement and success that might not have happened on its own. This strategy is similar to positive thinking and positive visualization, but it goes a step further in that it is usually intended to manifest in interpersonal relationships and interactions.