What if the secret to a student’s success was not just their IQ or their study habits, but what their teacher believed about them? In 1968, a famous study told teachers that certain students were ‘intellectual bloomers’ who were about to have a massive breakthrough. The twist? Those students were chosen entirely at random.
Yet, by the end of the year, those ‘bloomers’ actually showed significantly higher IQ gains than their peers. This is the Pygmalion effect.
| The Pygmalion Cycle | |
|---|---|
| Our Beliefs | A teacher believes a student is a “natural leader.” |
| Our Actions | The teacher gives that student more opportunities to speak or lead. |
| Their Beliefs | The student begins to see themselves as a leader. |
| Their Actions | The student works harder and gains more confidence. |
| Confirmation | The teacher sees the success and says, “I knew they were a leader!” |
What Is The Pygmalion Effect
The term “Pygmalion effect” originates from the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he carved. In psychology and sociology, the Pygmalion effect, or the Rosenthal effect (named after Robert Rosenthal, a psychologist who studied the phenomenon), refers to the phenomenon where higher expectations lead to an increase in performance. The underlying principle is that beliefs influence behaviours.
When someone believes something about another person, they may treat that person in a manner consistent with that belief, and, in turn, that treatment can influence the person to behave in a manner consistent with the treatment.
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How The Pygmalion Effect Works
- A teacher, manager, or other authority figure believes that a particular individual is particularly capable (or incapable).
- Due to this belief, the authority figure might provide more encouragement, training, opportunities, or attention to the individual. Alternatively, if the belief is negative, they might provide less support or more criticism.
- The individual performs better (or worse) due to the changes in the treatment they receive.
- The change in performance seems to confirm the authority figure’s original belief, even though the change in treatment led to the performance change.
Pygmalion Effect Definition
A psychological phenomenon, or a cognitive bias, wherein high expectations lead to improved performance in a given area. It suggests that people (especially students) internalise the positive labels placed upon them and succeed to satisfy those expectations.
Causes Of Pygmalion Effect
Here are some of the causes or reasons behind the Pygmalion effect:
Self-fulfilling Prophecy
This is the foundational idea behind the Pygmalion effect. When a person (for instance, a teacher) expects a certain behaviour or outcome (e.g., high academic achievement) from someone else (like a student), the individual might subconsciously provide that person with more resources, opportunities, or positive reinforcement, leading that person to meet the expected outcome.
Behavioural Confirmation
When someone has a belief or expectation about what another person is like, they may engage in behaviours that elicit responses from the other person that confirm the original belief.
Differential Treatment
People with positive expectations may provide more resources, opportunities, or feedback, which can lead to better outcomes.
For example, if a manager believes an employee is particularly talented, they might give them more training, better feedback, or more challenging assignments, thus fostering better performance.
Subconscious Non-verbal Cues
People often transmit their expectations through non-verbal cues like facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. These cues can be picked up, sometimes subconsciously, by the person being evaluated and can influence their behaviour.
Internalised Belief
The individual who is the subject of the expectation can start believing in the expectations set for them. If they are constantly told and treated like they are capable, they might develop a self-concept that aligns with this belief.
Feedback Loop
The Pygmalion effect can become a reinforcing loop. As the subject of the expectation begins to perform better, the person with the expectation receives confirmation that their belief is accurate, leading them to continue or intensify their behaviour that fosters the expected outcome.
Motivational Boost
Knowing that someone believes in your abilities can be a huge motivational boost. This belief can inspire confidence, reduce anxiety, and motivate further efforts towards a goal.
Examples Of The Pygmalion Effect
Here are some examples of the Pygmalion effect:
Pygmalion Effect on Sports Coaching
A coach who believes that certain players have more potential might give them more playing time, personalised training, and feedback. These players, receiving extra attention and practice, may end up performing better than their teammates.
Pygmalion Effect on Personal Relationships
Suppose a parent believes one of their children is more academically inclined than another. In that case, they might spend more time reading with that child or provide more educational resources, which can lead to better academic performance for that child.
Pygmalion Effect in Therapy and Rehabilitation
Patients who are believed by their therapists or counsellors to be more likely to recover or improve might receive more attention or a more positive approach, leading to better outcomes.
Pygmalion Effect on Military Training
Drill sergeants who believe certain cadets are more promising might push them harder or give them more attention, leading to better performance from those cadets.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pygmalion effect refers to the phenomenon where higher expectations of a person lead to an increase in their performance. Derived from psychological research, it suggests that belief and expectation can influence outcomes.
If teachers, for instance, expect students to succeed, those students are more likely to do so.
To harness the Pygmalion effect, set high but achievable expectations for individuals. Express confidence in their abilities, provide positive feedback, and avoid negative stereotypes. The belief in their potential can motivate them to perform better. This can be applied in classrooms, workplaces, or any setting where performance matters.
In education, the Pygmalion effect refers to the phenomenon where teachers’ higher expectations for certain students inadvertently lead to an increase in those students’ performance. If teachers believe and behave as if certain students are more capable, those students tend to achieve more, influenced by this positive belief and reinforcement.
In leadership, the Pygmalion effect denotes that when leaders have higher expectations of their team members, those individuals often rise to meet those expectations. Leaders’ beliefs in their members’ abilities can positively influence their performance, fostering an environment of trust, motivation, and increased self-efficacy among team members.
The term “Pygmalion effect” is derived from the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he carved. Miraculously, his strong belief and love brought the statue to life. Analogously, the effect suggests that strong beliefs can influence and transform another person’s behaviour and performance.
When applied to fraud prevention, the Pygmalion effect suggests that if organisations set high integrity standards and expectations, employees are more likely to align with those values. Expressing trust and confidence in employees’ ethical behaviour, and reinforcing those beliefs, can promote an environment less conducive to fraudulent activities.
