Why Do They Call It the Pygmalion Effect?
The Pygmalion Effect is the human phenomena illustrating how one person's expectations can have a drastic impact on an individual's performance and potential. This has also been called the "self-fulfilling prophecy." When a Harvard professor Robert Rosenthal proved this phenomena does occur in the classroom, he confirmed what humans have known for a long time. The Greek myth of Pygmalion is the first known reference to this concept.
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Myth of Pygmalion
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The myth of Pygmalion comes from Ovid's story "Metamorphoses," which was written around 8 A.D. This story tells of Pygmalion, who was disillusioned and uninterested in the women and closed himself off from the rest of the world to work on art. He created a statue of the most perfect woman he could think of, named her Galatea and fell in love with her. In desperation, he prayed to the goddess Venus, who took pity on him and brought his creation to life.
High Expectations
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Pygmalion's high expectations are an element of the myth that is easy to see within the concept of the Pygmalion Effect. From the story's beginning, Pygmalion had high standards for women, so much that every woman in existence fell short of them. When a child is around teachers and parents who expect great things of her, she will strive to meet or exceed these expectations to gain the love and approval she needs to be happy.
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Investment of Time and Energy
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In the myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor spent an incredible amount of time working on his art. He spent time conceptualizing, sculpting, worshiping and imagining what she would be like in real life. He later goes to pray to the goddess Venus, hoping his wish would be granted, even though there was no guarantee. This type of investment can be similar to the way a parent or teacher guides and influences a child in his growth process.
Modern Applications
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The Pygmalion Effect can be seen in both the home and school settings. Students who are favored and regarded as "special" or "gifted" will perform that way, on a subconscious level. A study by Rosenthal in 1966 showed a teacher wrongly informed that a student has a high IQ will treat this student as special. This may include higher expectations, greater patience and more encouragement. More modern research by Wood, Kaplan and McLloyd in 2007 has confirmed this deferential treatment can result in an increase in IQ. In the end, this child becomes what the caregiver hoped and imagined, just as Galatea did for Pygmalion.
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References
- SparkNotes: Metamorphoses
- SparkNotes: Pygmalion
- The National Teaching and Learning Forum: Pygmalion in the Classroom
- Cummings Study Guides: Ovid's Pygmlaion
- "What You Expect Is What You Get"; R. Rosenthal and L. Jacobson; 1966
- "Gender Differences in the Educational Expectations of Urban, Low-Income African American Youth: The Role of Parents and the School"; Dana Wood, Rachel Kaplan and Vonnie C. McLoyd; 2007
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
