Self-fulfilling prophecy: would you succeed to proof that your boss is wrong?
By tomitomi
@tomitomi (5429)
Singapore
April 17, 2010 8:53am CST
For the past few days, I've been thinking and toying with this word 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.
Wikipedia defines it as "a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true. In his book Social Theory and Social Structure, Merton gives as a feature of the self-fulfilling prophecy: eg. when Roxanna falsely believes that her marriage will fail and fears such failure will occur that it actually causes the marriage to fail. The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come 'true'."
My question is What if your boss in his/her self-fulfilling prophecy believes that you are Not a good worker, would you eat those words and become one? Or if you stand up to face every challenge to proof that he/she is wrong, would you succeed? How/Why?
2 responses
@rivengodwind (369)
• Philippines
19 Apr 10
Cognitive-behavioral theory assumes that one's thoughts can influence one's actions either directly or indirectly. If one assumes a particular perspective, specific actions can occur if one does it consistently enough. Given this, thinking that you'll have "a great day" predisposes you to be more discerning of stimuli that will make your day "bright". Consequently, being a pessimist colors your day in the opposite, negative disposition.
Given that thinking influences behavior, it makes sense to give more importance to what a person is thinking given the boss's comment. If that person thinks otherwise, then certainly he will create measures and expose himself to opportunities that will "prove the boss wrong". The same thing happens at the other end of the spectrum: taking the boss's comment at face value might also lead him to think the same way about himself.
What I'm really trying to say is, no one can do our thinking for us and plainly direct the course of our actions by a single comment - it's what we make out of it that will.
1 person likes this
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
19 Apr 10
Hi rivengodwind
It has been a wonderful insight into the Cognitive-behavioral theory which assumes that one's thoughts can influence one's actions either directly or indirectly. I am most humbled as I read with such awe and great interest. Considering the example of the boss and his/her worker which has been very much dealt with and on which this topic is based on, please allow me to propose another question. And by your graciousness have it answered. Very much appreciated indeed.
Assuming that both, the boss and the worker, through numerous comments and actions have each consistently enough adopted a particular perspective. The boss with the negative disposition who believes the said worker is no good. The worker on the other hand who believes and who has created measures and has exposed himself to opportunities to "prove the boss wrong".
Assuming again, on an emotion-scale of up to 5, at which both the boss and the worker are at now, sometime later. Who do you think would have emerged 'victorious'? The boss who would have eventually fired the worker for being "no good" or the worker who would have managed to convert the boss from a negative 5 to a positive 5?
@umit_umit (1984)
• India
18 Apr 10
well friend ones i did like this an i was right as he was misusin the funds by putting them in expenses!
