Unveiling the intriguing psychological phenomenon known as the Pygmalion Effect, we delve into how expectations can shape reality. Discover how the belief in someone's potential can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, proving them right in the process.
Clever Hans, a horse that could answer questions with 90% accuracy by tapping his hoof
He could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and tell the time and the date. Clever Hans could also read and understand questions written or asked in German.
- Clever Hans had learned to detect subtle yet consistent nonverbal cues.
- When someone asked a question, Clever Hans responded to their body language with a degree of accuracy.
How expectations influence performance
The Pygmalion Effect – how managers treat their subordinates is subtly influenced by what they expect from them
- If manager’s expectations are high, productivity is likely to be excellent
- Low expectations = poor productivity
- This suggests our reality is negotiable and can be manipulated by others-on purpose or by accident
- What we achieve, how we think, and how we act can be influenced by the expectations of those around us
Check your assumptions
The expectations people have of us affect us in countless subtle ways each day.
- Individually, these knocks and nudges may have minimal impact. In the long run, they might dictate whether we succeed or fail or fall somewhere in the middle
- A perfect illustration of this is the case of James Sweeney and George Johnson. Sweeney was a teacher at Tulane University, where Johnson worked as a porter. Sweeney had a hunch that he could teach anyone to be a competent computer operator. He began his experiment, offering Johnson lessons each afternoon.
