The Pygmalion effect refers to how one person's expectations of another can directly influence their behaviour and performance. If we believe that someone has potential, that person will probably try harder, motivated by our confidence. And vice versa: if we expect little, this will also be reflected in their actions.
This phenomenon happens everywhere: at work, in the family, at school. Our beliefs about others are not invisible: they are transmitted, felt and have an impact.
History: The Myth of Pygmalion
An ancient Greek myth tells us the story of the Pygmalion effect, a sculptor who made a statue of a woman. It represented the woman of his dreams, and he called her Galatea. The statue was so perfect that Pygmalion fell in love with her and began to treat her as if she were a real woman, as if she were alive. Finally, while Pygmalion slept, Aphrodite brought the statue to life when she saw Pygmalion's love for her.
This myth gives its name to what we now know as the "Pygmalion Effect," as it exceeded what he expected from himself, and by believing that the statue was alive, it indeed became so.
In more modern times, the myth is the origin of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion or movies like My Fair Lady and the story of Pinocchio.
What are we talking about? Well... the power of expectations!
Yes, the expectations I have about other people (my partner, my children, my bosses, subordinates, coworkers, or team members) directly influence them.
Let's look at some examples: the Pygmalion effect at work.
Si un empleado recibe la continua aceptación de su jefe, es muy posible que aquel exhiba un alto desempeño en sus funciones y, por tanto, su rendimiento sea más alto, a la vez que efectivo. Si, por el contrario, sus capacidades son siempre cuestionadas por su superior, la actitud indiferente y la desmotivación por parte del subordinado irán aumentando, lo que incuestionablemente conllevará una disminución de la cantidad y calidad de su trabajo.
If an employee receives continuous acceptance from his or her boss, it is very likely that he or she will exhibit high performance in his or her functions and, therefore, will perform more efficiently and effectively. If, on the other hand, his abilities are always questioned by his superior, the subordinate's indifferent attitude and demotivation will increase, which will unquestionably lead to a decrease in the quantity and quality of his work.
And what happens in a school?
Rosenthal, in his famous book Pygmalion in the Classroom, explains the following case that serves to illustrate what we are talking about: They conducted an ability test with students from a school aged between 7 and 11 years, from second to fifth grade. Without grading the tests, they informed the teachers that half of each class, chosen at random, was very bright, while the other half was not. What happened next? The results of the half of the students considered to be brighter (even though they actually weren’t) were significantly higher by the end of the school year compared to the other part of the class, which was considered less “bright.”
In conclusion, Rosenthal argues that the positive expectations that teachers projected onto the group of students they considered brighter facilitated their learning. The opposite was true for the other group..
What are all these examples trying to prove? Something very simple: what we expect from others, both positively and negatively, conditions our dealings with them and is perceived by the other person.
Final reflection on the Pygmalion myth and its teachings
When we expect something good: the person feels loved, appreciated, their self-confidence increases, they put in effort, work because they know someone expects positive results, their effort and work lead them to achieve their goals, and in the end, they accomplish what was expected of them, which reinforces their confidence.
The more you expect from others, the more they will get involved, as they will sense your appreciation, your patience, and your interest.
What would become of us if we expected nothing from life?
Or if we expected things but anticipated them to be negative?
Here, positive thinking appears again. People who expect good things from life focus on opportunities and largely create their own luck.
If I believe that my future will be better, that a better future is possible, I will invest time, effort, and work into that future I desire. This is how I will achieve it.
But what happens if I have a pessimistic view of life, if I think things could get worse? Well, that is probably what will happen to me.
And this doesn’t just happen to me. As we have seen, it is also valid for what I think or expect from others.
Some questions I can ask myself:
What do I think or expect from my life?
What do I think or expect from my children?
Be careful, what you think or expect from them is what you will transmit to them!
This month, to finish, I leave you with a quote from Goethe:
“Treat a person as they are, and they will remain as they are; treat them as they can and should be, and they will become who they can and should be.”
Jordi Salat
Sports Coach ITW Sport Program
Trainer en PNL
Instagram: @jordisalatcoach
