Self-fulfilling prophecy

            Self-fulfilling prophecy is an error in thinking that many individuals engage in unaware of how it will affect them in the future. A self-fulfilling prophecy is a false belief about oneself and/or others that leads to its own fulfillment for the individual or the other person (Madon, Willard, Guyll, & Scherr, 2011). The individual or other person may not believe the false belief, however, if someone treats them as if the belief is true the prophecy will manifest itself. Only a belief that is false can be self-fulfilling (Merton, 1948). Researchers believe the self-verification theory is the cause of the error of self-fulfilling prophecy. The self-verification theory (Swann, 1987), states that individuals have a baseline desire to confirm their own beliefs and concepts whether they are correct or not. It can be viewed as beneficial and even satisfying for someone to believe their own beliefs because the beliefs can create and enhance the environment they are in. Thinking errors can lead to social problems which both are created over time and accumulate when the magnitude of the thinking of the individual increases over time (Madon, Willard, Guyll, & Scherr, 2011). It seems self-fulfilling prophecies are here to stay if individuals continue to think falsely about themselves. How are thinking about yourself? Does it affect how you behave in the workplace?

Madon, S., Willard, J., Guyll, M., & Scherr, K. C. (2011). Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: 

Mechanisms, Power, and Links to Social Problems. Social & Personality Psychology 

Compass, 5(8), 578-590. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00375.x

Merton, R. K. (1948). The self-fulfilling prophecy. Antioch Review, 8, 193–210.