Advice Column #2

Dear Dude: I recently read somewhere that a person’s expectations of an event make an outcome more likely to occur. I am starting a new part time job soon. What does this mean for me? Does this have something to do with the 'self-fulfilling prophecy' that I hear my teachers talking about?
Expectant in Eastend

Dear Expectant in Eastend: Yes this would fit right in with the self-fulfilling prophecy if you are expecting to do well at your job. This self fulfilling prophecy has had several tests done upon it. Such as this one here "Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson, in 1968, gave all the children in an elementary class a test and told teachers that some of children were unusually clever (though they were actually average). They came back at the end of the school year and tested the same class again. Guess what? The children singled out had improved their scores far more than other children. (Rosenthal 1995)." So basically the self-fulfilling prophecy means what you expect to happen has a better chance of happening because you will work towards it. I believe this is true because it makes sense that if you want to win or lose then there would good odds that it will turn out how you expect it too. So if you want to succeed in you job it would be a good idea to be positive about your job.
Sincerely,
Dude

www.businessdictionary.com/definition/self-fulfilling-prophecy.html
changingminds.org › Explanations › Theories


Dear Dude: My mother is always saying that if you look good then you’ll feel good, and if you feel good then you’ll do good. Is this true? Can the way you feel about yourself actually make you do better?
Doubtful in Davidson

Dear Doubtful in Davidson: Well if you look above this is similiar to the self-fulfilling prophecy. What you expect of yourself is what you are likely to get. It has to do with self-esteem and how you see yourself. If you respect yourself then it is more likely that other people will respect you. So yes your mother would be right. Usually mothers are it seems.
Sincerely,
Dude

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/self_esteem.html