What is the effect of pygmalion?

"Pygmalion effect", also sometimes known as "Rosenthal Effect" for a psychologist who was attributed to his discovery, is the theoretical learning that people will act or behave as others expect. It is very similar to the concept of self -realizing prophecy. The effect has both positive and negative results - the person expected by his superiors will succeed will, but the opposite is also usually true. Most of the time these expectations are not openly discussed. They communicate passively through things such as choosing words or body language. The effect is most often discussed in terms of education and workplaces, but can also take on individuals.

origin in mythology and literature

The effect and subsequent psychological learning has its origin in Greek mythology. According to the popular myth, Pygmalion was Prince Cyprus and a sculptor who created and fell in love with the statue of his ideal wife of ivory. He begged the Tbohy Venus to give life to his creation and she committed himself. Pygmalion married the resulting woman and had withPole perfect life. He expected the statue to be perfect in all directions, and fulfilled his expectations when she was revived.

English playwright George Bernard Shaw has expanded this idea in his popular game pygmalion , which served as an inspiration for perhaps a better known my fair lady . In these dramas, a fine professor converts a woman with a low class, a Cockney Woman into a lady who is suitable for society primarily by believing and expecting the best of her.

in education

Many studies have been performed on the effect of pygmalion in the classroom. Teachers who receive information that some students are more likely to excel and achieve than other class members often find that these students actually do better and MDash; Although they are not objectively advantageous. Even teachers who try not to pass on their beliefs or expectations for determiningThe students, often find that these expectations, whatever they are, have influential power.

Many psychologists think that teachers actually communicate their expectations to their students, even if neither they nor children really realize it. The body language is as important as verbal communication in passing positive and negative expectations, such as the tone of the voice. The use of body language is most often a subconscious form of communication, but can prove very strong. The reaction and interpretation of non -verbal signals is also often subconscious, but it tends to be long -term, especially when referring to the expectation of one person from another.

in business

The effect of Pygmalion also has an important role in the working world. Managers, bosses and corporate superiors can often affect the work and success of the employment by expecting to either get up or fall. As in school, these expectations may not be explicitly communicated to take root.

Self -concept

the idea of ​​self -realization of the prophecy in terms ofThe concept is also an important part of the concept. A person who believes he is worthless or has a different negative perception of his abilities and qualities usually meet his expectations. It will never reach its real potential, but will limit themselves within its own limited restrictions. People who tend to have positive self -confidence and believe that they are able to achieve everything they have set are usually more likely.

strategic use

Psychologists often teach individual patients, teachers and business leaders to strategically use the Pygmalion effect to support success and positive thinking. By forceing ourselves to determine high expectations for others, theories can really help success and success that would not be achieved in itself. This kind of strategy is related to concepts, such as positive thinking and positive visualization, but it is a step further in the fact that it is usually to actually manifest itself in relationships and interactions with others.