The Self Fulfilling Prophecy - Textbook Topic 2 Flashcards
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
A prediction that comes true by virtue of it having been made.
What do interactionists argue labelling can affect?
Pupils achievement by creating a self-fulfilling prophecy
How can a self fulfilling prophecy affect pupils achievement?
- The teacher labels a pupil and makes predictions based on this label.
- The teacher treats the pupil according to this label as if the prediction is already true.
- The pupil internalises the teacher’s expectation which becomes part of his self-concept and so they become the kind of pupil the teacher originally believed them to be.
What did Rosenthal and Jacobson find in their study on teachers expectations?
Almost half identified as spurters had made significant progress a year after being labelled.
What do Rosenthal and Jacobson suggest teachers beliefs about pupils had been influenced by?
The ‘test’ results - teachers then conveyed these beliefs to the pupil through their interactions with them.
What did the fact that children were randomly selected in Rosenthal and Jacobsons study suggest?
That if teachers believe a pupil to be a certain type they can make them into that type.
What does Rosenthal and Jacobsons findings suggest (an important interactionist principle)
What people believe to be true will have real effects.
How can the self-fulfilling prophecy produce under-achievement?
If teachers have low expectations and communicate these through interactions then children may develop a negative self-concept which may cause them to see themselves as failures and give up trying fulfilling e original prophecy.
