That Pygmalion Effect

 

That psychological phenomenon called PYGMALION EFFECT has been in place for more than 3 decades BUT I still find it interesting enough [if NOT mysterious] because this is NOT much cascaded across at least for awareness.  For alignment, as described Rosenthal and Jacobson in 1968, PYGMALION EFFECT refers to those circumstances WHERE higher expectations will LIKELY result in better performance OR results.  We could hear those narratives of folks WHO ended up with superior academic results through the years and WHILE credit goes to them [primarily], their mentors [and normally its their parents OR guardians] should be shared a fraction of those credits if they expected much from their mentees📙📘

Essentially, WHEN our teachers expect more from us as students, we should thank them because there is a good likely that we will end up with better results.  NOT to badmouth OR discriminate government schools [especially in the Third World WHERE the governments are giving out the best possible services BUT obviously those government schools can NOT just approximate the quality of education offered by private educational institutions], it should NOT be surprising if more often, we would hear the products from private schools with outstanding results!!!

Simply put, the PYGMALION EFFECT is like a self-fulfilling prophecy WHEREIN the objects [meaning, the targetted individuals] of projections internalize the optimistic labels they receive and succeed to conform to those labels.  This implies that saguine expectations on the part of either the mentor OR leader could lead to improved performance by either the mentees OR the leader's followers💚💛💜

There was this 1968 experiment by Rosenthal WHO tested the IQ of school student WHO were identified as respondents in the experiment.  After the IQ tests, the teachers were given the names of those 'intellectual bloomers' BUT their scores were NOT shared.  At the end of the school year, all the students retook the IQ test and while the overall scores did rise, those 'intellectual bloomers' produced the highest results😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  BUT WHAT perflexes me is, should we be tough taskmasters and mentors to our mentees & students?  A key tenet in the PYGMALION EFFECT is that the expectations of others on us can eventually influence our behavior in a significant way.  Without discriminating other cultures, let's single out cultures WHO are highly disciplined like the Japanese.  Despite all the debacles they suffered from World War II, 50 years later, they are on Tier-1 in terms of competitiveness in the First World.  Indeed, I'll buy hook, line and sinker that PYGMALION EFFECT✅✅✅

That PYGMALION Effect!

 

Our piece today is NOT about psychology BUT we'd like to sneak a bit into their world if only to dissect more That PYGMALION Effect!  For alignment, PYGMALION Effect is described HOW expectations about someone's performance can unconsciously influence one's behavior and ultimately may lead to the fulfillment of those expectations.  Heard of the optimists WHO never get daunted no matter HOW steep are the mountain slopes one has to climb???

HOW many times have we heard of that persistent 'LOTHARIO' who woos the very apple of his eyes, never slowing down OR worst never pulling the brakes.  WHY?  Likely it's because he is optimistic enough that eventually he will win over that 'girl of his life'.  Of course, in reality, there are narratives that do flop BUT they are more outliers.  Simply out, the PYGMALION Effect refers to that psychological phenomenon WHERE higher expectations would normally lead to an improved performance OR positive outcome and results of a specific pursuit.  In our daily life, in school as an example, essentially, WHEN teachers OR leaders expect more of others, they will likely perform better😊😊😊

Commonly known as the ROSENTHAL Effect, WHEN we expect certain behaviors of others, we are likely to act in ways that make the expected behavior more likely to occur.  In effect, it is that positive form of self-fulfilling prophecy WHEREIN the objects [the targeted individuals] of projections internalize the optimistic labels they receive and succeed to conform to those labels💧💧💧

In a way, this implies the sanguine expectations on a leader's part could lead to an improved performance by his followers.  This reinforces more the significant roles of leaders, hence, that old cliche "FOLLOW THE LEADER' because essentially, WHEN we 'toe the line' and heeding the advice and guidance of our leaders, there is a greater likelihood for us to succeed rather than fail in WHATEVER pursuit we are involved💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  If we need to be the crusader and advocate of that PYGMALION Effect, let's go for it, be it in our own households, at the workplace OR at the business settings.  That way, we can pitch-in and spread our positive influence to serve as that catalyst and motivator to encourage people to work out for their BEST results, BEST outcomes, and BEST achievements.  WHETHER you get credited IF and WHEN credit is due is NOT even a talking point here because this all boils down on our respective responsibilities to be the 'unseen' motivator for people to perform and even 'outperform' themselves beyond expectations.  That is a fear in the cap money CAN'T buy.  Let's go for that PYGMALION Effect dude!!!