The Pygmalion Effect, also known as the Rosenthal effect is the phenomenon whereby higher expectations
lead to a higher performance.
By the Pygmalion effect, people internalize their positive labels, and those with positive
labels succeed accordingly.This is a form of the self-fulfilling prophecy where a prediction
either directly or indirectly causes the prediction to come true.
A self-fulfilling prophecy only impacts oneself but the pygmalion effect impacts other people.
The pygmalion effect is a form of the self-fulfilling prophecy because it leads people to internalize
their own positive self-fulfilling prophecy.
Let’s look at it from an example.
The Pygmalion Effect is also known as the Rosenthal effect because it is named after
Robert Rosenthal.
Rosenthal did the “Pygmalion in School” study together with Lenore Jacobson.
At the beginning of the school year, a group of elementary school teachers was told that
some of their new students were gifted and talented.
This information, which was completely made up, was given about random average students
in each class, while all students had done an IQ test in advance.
At the end, both experimental and control groups showed a mean gain in IQ from before
the test to after the test.
However, the students described as gifted and talented had increased their IQ significantly.
Rosenthal concluded that when we expect certain behaviors of others, we are likely to act
in ways that make the expected behavior more likely to occur.
This makes sense because if you believe someone has more potential, you will be more inclined
to help them reach their full potential whereas if you believe someone does not have much
potential, you wont see the point of helping them.
People want to see others succeed and in their mind, they see that the one who has more potential
benefits more from the extra push instead of the one with less.
Think about the extra boost someone could get when they receive more help and attention
compared to someone who receives limited help and attention.
Your belief impacts your actions towards someone which will then impact that persons belief
about themselves.
People can tell that they are getting special treatment which will lead them to believe
they are good enough to succeed.
They then create their own self-fulfilling prophecy that they will succeed so they go
on to succeed.
Likewise, in what is known as the golem effect where low expectations lead to a decreased
performance if someone realizes they are not getting the special treatment, they might
believe they are not good enough.
They create their own self-fulfilling prophecy that they cant succeed and thus they go on
to fail.
As a leader, someone should be aware of this effect and use it to better those around them.
Leaders get the performance they expect.
If you were a leader that believed everyone can be a good performer, the chance that they
can succeed will be much higher.
Your leadership abilities will also be on point because you want to see everyone succeed.
When you dont expect greatness, your leadership skills will be worse as you wont see the point
of bettering those around you.
When that happens, you will be a bad example and overall performance will be down because
you are leading by example - a terrible one.
You ideally want to expect more out of others so it improves their chances of success and
your leadership abilities.
The simple phrase of I believe in you are powerful words that can be used to increase
performance.
Remember - your actions lead to others creating their own self-fulfilling prophecy which will
in turn either help or hurt their chances of success.
Do you believe the pygmalion effect is real?
Leave a comment below and if you are interested in more psychology videos, check out this
video on the bandwagon effect.