Applications of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies to School Education

1.1 Definition and Concept of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

The psychological and social phenomenon known as a self-fulfilling prophecy (SFP) describes how people's thoughts or expectations about a future event can influence their behavior and ultimately result in realizing that event (Zajda, 2019). SFP, a psychological phenomenon in which expectations or ideas about a person or event affect actions and results, has long piqued researchers' interest in various disciplines (Nichols, 2016). Although their effects are frequently investigated in fields including psychology, sociology, and economics, their role in education has drawn more attention recently. This interest is motivated by the knowledge that educational experiences and outcomes can be strongly influenced by the ideas and expectations held by teachers, administrators, and even students themselves. By comprehending and utilizing SFP in the context of education, educators may open new avenues for creating conducive learning environments, boosting student motivation and accomplishment, and advancing fair educational methods (Guyll et al., 2010). This study examines the possible effects, implementation obstacles, and methods for SFP applications within the context of school instruction. We aim to contribute to the existing knowledge in the literature on enhancing educational results and developing inclusive learning environments by illuminating this remarkable phenomenon.

There are numerous ways that the SFP is defined. The term SFP was defined by Edward Merton. In 1948, Robert Merton coined the term “SFP” to describe a false definition of a situation that prompts behavior that makes the initially false conception true. His definition of the prophecy was “a false definition of a situation evoking a new behavior which makes the original false conception true” (Pollastrini, 2011a). Our identities are changed by expectations. The phrase “it's a persistently held belief in another person such that the belief becomes a reality” is relatively recent. A person becomes the person they are considered to be when they are believed in (Pollastrini, 2011a). Therefore, what external sources think of a person ultimately shapes who they are and how they act. Sociologists have identified a four-stage cycle of SFP:

• 1.

  Our actions toward others shape people’s beliefs about us.

• 2.

  People’s beliefs about us affect their behavior toward us.

• 3.

  People’s behavior toward us influences our beliefs about ourselves.

• 4.

  Our beliefs about ourselves impact how we act toward others, restarting the cycle.

Figure 1.

Pygmalion effect