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self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief or expectation that helps to bring about its own fulfillment, as, for example, when a person expects nervousness to impair his or her performance in a job interview or when a teacher’s preconceptions about a student’s ability influence the child’s achievement for better or worse. See Pygmalion effect; upward Pygmalion effect. See also behavioral confirmation; demand characteristics; expectancy effect.

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Psychology term of the day

November 25th 2024

portal-systemic encephalopathy

portal-systemic encephalopathy

see hepatic encephalopathy.