The Pygmalion Effect, From Miracle on Ice to Raising Them Nice
The Pygmalion Effect, From Miracle on Ice to Raising Them Nice
The Pygmalion Effect, also known as the "self-fulfilling prophecy," is a powerful concept that has been explored by philosophers, writers, and spiritual leaders for centuries. It refers to the idea that our thoughts and beliefs shape our actions and outcomes, and that we can create positive change in our lives by embracing a growth mindset and focusing on our thoughts and beliefs.
Named after the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has created, Pygmalion wishes for the statue to come to life, and the goddess Aphrodite grants his wish. The Pygmalion Effect refers to the phenomenon in which a person's expectations of another person can influence that person's behavior and performance.
This phenomenon has been extensively studied in the field of psychology and has been shown to have a significant impact on a person’s behavior and performance. The concept highlights the importance of our thoughts and beliefs, and how they can shape our experiences and outcomes. By embracing a growth mindset and believing in the potential of ourselves and others, we can create positive change in our lives and the lives of those around us. The Pygmalion Effect is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth and has the potential to inspire and empower individuals to reach their full potential.
In academia, you may have heard the Pygmalion Effect referred to as:
· The Rosenthal Effect named after psychologist Robert Rosenthal, who conducted groundbreaking research on the Pygmalion Effect in the 1960s and 1970s.,
· The Golem Effect is a similar concept that focuses on the negative impact of low expectations on a person's behavior and performance.
· Expectancy Theory is a concept in organizational psychology that suggests that an individual's behavior and performance are influenced by their beliefs about the relationship between their own efforts and the outcomes they can expect.
· The Galatea Effect refers to the impact of a person's expectations on their own behavior and performance, rather than the behavior and performance of others.
These academic descriptions help to illustrate the many ways in which the Pygmalion Effect can impact our lives and relationships, and how our thoughts and beliefs can shape our and others experiences and outcomes.
One of my favorite real-life examples of the Pygmalion Effect in action is the story of Coach Herb Brooks and the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. Coach Brooks believed in his team, and through his unwavering confidence and belief, he inspired the team to greatness, leading them to a historic gold medal victory in the Miracle on Ice movie based on the book, One Goal.
The moment in Sweden after the US Olympic hockey team lost a scrimmage game was a turning point for the team, and a testament to Coach Herb Brooks' living commitment to the Pygmalion Effect. Despite the crushing loss, Coach Brooks refused to let his team call it a night. Instead, he made the team continue to work out into the night, pushing them to strive for excellence and to believe in themselves and finally to realize they are a team playing for USA, not a bunch of individuals playing for their old universities.
As the team worked out, Coach Brooks repeatedly asked them who they were playing hockey for. They kept answering that they were playing for their schools, but Coach Brooks refused to accept this answer. He continued to push the team, demanding an answer, until finally, someone on the team declared that they were playing for the USA and the workout abruptly ended. From that time forward, the players became a team, they became “one” and had the pride and inspiration to represent the country. His high expectations were finally embraced by the team for the first time.
This idea is not just limited to the realm of sports, however. It can also be applied to our personal lives and to the way we raise our children. By teaching our children to believe in themselves, embrace a growth mindset, and act, we can help them achieve their full potential and make a positive impact on their lives and the world around them. We don’t do that by lowering our expectations of the next generation.
"If" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling that has been widely read and celebrated for its wisdom and inspiration. The poem presents a series of conditions, each beginning with the word "if," that describe the qualities and characteristics of a strong and successful person. Through these conditions, Kipling offers guidance on how to live a virtuous and fulfilling life, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, integrity, and self-reliance.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of facing adversity with grace and courage. Kipling encourages readers to "keep their head" when all around them are losing theirs, to "trust themselves" when others doubt them, and to "wait and not be tired by waiting." These conditions reflect the idea that success requires patience, persistence, and inner strength, and that we must be able to endure difficult times and remain steadfast in our beliefs and values. The poem exhibits the high expectations of what it means to be a Man by a father to his son.
"If" by Rudyard Kipling:
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Growing up with a strong and determined single mother who always had the highest expectations of her children was a unique and challenging experience. My mother was a true believer in the Pygmalion Effect (even if she didn’t call it that), and her sheer belief in each of us drove us to achieve incredible things that would not have otherwise been possible. She never accepted anything less than our best, and her high expectations pushed us to reach our full potential and become better versions of ourselves.
Despite the challenges that came with living up to such high expectations, I can say with certainty that my mother's expectations had a profound and lasting impact on my life and the lives of my siblings. Her belief in us inspired us to achieve academic excellence, and especially our youngest siblings went on to become "rock stars" in their academic careers. Today, as adults, we are all grateful for the lessons and values that our mother instilled in us, and we carry them with us every day. This helped shape me into the person I am today, and I am grateful for the positive impact that her belief in me has had on my life.
"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world." Buddha
The Pygmalion Effect is a powerful concept that has been explored by some of history's greatest thinkers. By holding expectations high, embracing a growth mindset, focusing on our thoughts and our belief in others, and acting, we can make a positive impact on the lives of the next generation, and thus the world around us. Let's spread the word about the Pygmalion Effect and help raise a new generation of confident, capable, and impactful individuals! #PygmalionEffect #RaiseThemNice #BelieveInYourself #BelieveinThem #HighExpectations #Kipling #Miricle #OnGoal