The definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy in psychology is that negative beliefs predict negative behavior (or problems in life). Surprisingly, the psychological explanation of a self-fulfilling prophecy is not that positive beliefs predict positive events.
A self-fulfilling prophecy is different than the Law of Attraction. The original psychological definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy is from Robert Merton: "a false definition of a situation evoking a new behavior which makes the original false conception come true."
In other words, what you believe will come true because you will subconsciously and consciously act in ways that cause the event to happen. Self-fulfilling prophecies are powerful, and real.
How Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Work in Psychology
If you think a negative thought (e.g., your husband will cheat on you), then you may predict or even create a problem (e.g., he is unfaithful). There are several possible reasons for this self-fulfilling prophecy. It's possible that you knew going into the marriage that he's been unfaithful in the past. Maybe he left his last relationship to be with you. Or perhaps it's not about him – maybe it's about your lack of trust or fear of intimacy.
Whatever the reason for your negative belief, your actions may set him up to cheat. More specifically, you may treat him with distrust and suspicion...and he'll be more likely to live up to your negative thoughts and expectations. If you refuse to believe him when he tells you the truth, he'll see no reason to stay honest. Your expectations shape your future.
Whether he cheats or not, it's not your fault. A self-fulfilling prophecy is simply a cause-and-effect scenario.
The Group Effect of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
Self-fulfilling prophecies work with groups, too, proving that two is better than one! It's called the synergistic accumulative effect, and it simply means that two or more people's expectations are more powerful than one person's.
New research from the American Psychological Society shows that group expectations predict events more accurately than individual expectations. Self-fulfilling prophecies in families are particularly common. For instance, if your whole family expects Junior to break the law or develop a drinking problem by the time he hits age seven, then he could very well live up to those negative thoughts and expectations. This is the group effect of self-fulfilling prophecies.
The Snergistic Accumulative Effect (Self-Fulfilling Prophecies in a Family or Society)
The combined effect of self-fulfilling prophecies is especially significant when applied to society's beliefs about minorities or stereotyped groups. For instance, if we as a community believe that fast food is good, then our beliefs could affect our health as a society. If we believe we're raising a generation of video-game addicted spoiled children, then that's what we'll get. This is the group effect of self-fulfilling prophecies, or the synergistic accumulative effect.
A Positive Spin on Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
If self-fulfilling prophecies work for negative outcomes, isn't it possible that they can work for positive outcomes as well? It seems that another term for "positive-self fulfilling prophecies" is The Secret and the Law of Attraction. Visualization, in other words.
However, the traditional psychological self-fulfilling prophecies have been researched and proven true over the years, and they focus on how negative thoughts and behaviors create problems in life.
If you found Self-Fulfilling Prophecies in Psychology helpful, you might like Empowering Yourself for Success.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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