Have you noticed that students with higher expectations placed upon them tend to rise higher in the school ranks? “Of course,” you’d think, those we expect to succeed must be smarter, more talented, and more skilled than the rest, right? But what if those people were just as average as everyone else? Would they still rise in the ranks? The Pygmalion effect is a psychological phenomenon whereby higher expectations lead to higher performance.
To find out more, watch the video below:
Vocabulary Questions:
- Define “and so on”. “The belief’s about themselves cause the other’s actions towards us, which again reinforce our beliefs in that person- and so and on and on and on.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “in return” mean? ” “Chris feels you appreciate him and he appreciates you in return.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
- Expound on the term “all the same”? “Half the group were told their rats were extremely intelligent and specifically trained, while the other half were told that the rats were dumb. In fact, they were all the same.” Use this expression to make your own sentence and give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Can you think of a personal anecdote where the Pygmalion effect affected you or others in a negative way?
- How can you avoid being on the negative side of the Pygmalion effect?
- Do you think the Pygmalion effect is a positive or negative phenomenon?