Exam 15: Section 2: Behaviour and Cognition

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A self-fulfilling prophecy in social perception and behavior refers to a belief or expectation that leads to its own fulfillment. This means that when individuals hold a certain belief about someone or something, they may behave in ways that ultimately cause that belief to come true.

This effect occurs because our beliefs and expectations can influence our behavior and interactions with others. For example, if someone believes that a certain person is unfriendly, they may act cold or distant towards that person. In response, the person being perceived as unfriendly may also act in a cold or distant manner, thus confirming the original belief.

An example of a self-fulfilling prophecy in social perception and behavior is when a teacher believes that a student is not capable of academic success. As a result, the teacher may provide less support and encouragement to that student, leading the student to underperform academically. This, in turn, confirms the teacher's original belief about the student's abilities.

In summary, a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when our beliefs and expectations influence our behavior in a way that ultimately confirms those beliefs. This effect can have significant implications for social interactions and relationships, as it can perpetuate negative beliefs and outcomes.

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People often have goals to manage the kind of impression they make on others because they want to be liked, respected, or accepted. This can lead to the desire to make a positive impression. However, there are times when individuals may engage in self-handicapping behavior, which can impede their ability to make a positive impression.

Self-handicapping is a strategy where individuals create obstacles or excuses for themselves in order to protect their self-esteem and provide a potential excuse for failure. This behavior can undermine their ability to make a positive impression because it signals to others that they may not be capable or competent.

Empirical evidence for self-handicapping comes from various studies in social psychology. For example, a study by Jones and Berglas (1978) found that participants who were given the opportunity to self-handicap by taking a performance-inhibiting drug before a task were more likely to use the drug when they were told that their performance would be evaluated. This suggests that individuals may engage in self-handicapping behavior in order to protect their self-esteem in the face of potential failure.

On the other hand, there is also evidence to support the idea that individuals strive to make a positive impression. For example, a study by Leary and Kowalski (1990) found that individuals were motivated to present themselves in a positive light in order to gain social acceptance and approval.

In summary, individuals may try to make a positive impression on others, but they may also engage in self-handicapping behavior that undermines their ability to do so. This can be influenced by the desire to protect their self-esteem and manage the expectations of others.

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Targets especially try to dispel perceivers' false impressions when they are aware of them Hilton & Darley, 1985), when targets think their own behavior might have contributed to the misperception Darley & Fazio, 1980), when the false impressions especially contradict targets' own self-views Baumeister & Jones, 1978), and when they matter a lot to the target. However, under some circumstances, the target may find the perceiver's false impression to be so desirable that the target will attempt to fit it and come to see the self as the perceiver does. This extreme case of the self-fulfilling prophecy shows not only the target's behavior but own self-impression coming to fit the perceiver's initially false impression Fazio, Effrein, & Falender, 1981; M. Snyder & Swann, 1978b).