What are self-fulfilling prophecies?

Self-fulfilling prophecies refer to the phenomenon where an individual's expectations or beliefs about a situation or another person can lead to behavior that influences those expectations, effectively bringing them to fruition. For example, if a teacher believes that a student will succeed, they might give that student more attention and encouragement, which can result in the student performing better and ultimately fulfilling the teacher's initial belief.

The concept encompasses the idea that stress and lowered expectations can indeed lead to a negative outcome as well. If someone believes they will fail or that they are not capable, this belief may result in lack of effort, anxiety, or disengagement, which can ultimately lead to the failure or outcome that they expected. In this way, the initial belief or expectation shapes behavior and influences reality, demonstrating how powerful beliefs can be in creating actual outcomes.

This understanding is vital in contexts such as education, mental health, and interpersonal relationships, where expectations can significantly impact performance and attitudes. The other options do not capture the full breadth of the concept; they either suggest overly positive interpretations or fail to acknowledge the way expectations can turn into reality through reinforcement of behavior.