Today I am going to talk about the Pygmalion Effect, this topic is really interesting and most people have heard about it. However it is difficult to find a accurate definition from common people. Pygmalion effect is the possibilities of affecting someone behavior based on the beliefs that you have in his or her abilities. This effect is also known as the self fulfilling prophecy (Digest, 2003).
In other words, the Pygmalion effect is a phenomenon in which with grater expectation placed on students, children or employees, you will get a better performance from them. This Effect may be seen in any place at any moment in a work ambient, scholar ambient or even at home. Using the Pygmalion effect managers and anyone in charge of personnel management can create better employees, just bringing them confidence. That is simply to say that potential creates potential.
In order to explain in a better way this topic I will took an investigation madeby Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson. This was a classic experiment made with elementary school children from 18 classrooms, in which they randomly chose 20% of the children from each room and told the teachers they were geniuses. Naturally and showingthe Pygmalion effect those children were the best of the best. As the research shows “The children, performed admirably, gaining an average of two IQ points in verbal ability, seven points in reasoning and four points in over all IQ.” (Rosenthal & Jacobson 1992).
At the end of the experiment the teachers were informed that those students were not genius, and that they were selected in the same way that teachers were selected, randomly.
In this video you will find a brief explanation of what is this effect about and a simple and useful example that will illustrate better the idea.
References:
Envision Software, Incorporated Tampa, Florida. Disponible[Online] http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Pygmalion_Effect.html
Sehgal, A. The Pygmalion Effect - Belief in potential creates potential. 2009. Disponible [Online] http://www.chrmglobal.com/Replies/2953/1/The-Pygmalion-Effect-.html
Machaalani, M. The Pygamlion Effect. 2005. Disponible[Online] http://www.accomplishlife.com/blogs/8/The-Pygmalion-Effect.html
Images taken from:
http://thingaboutskins.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/my-friend-chad-victims-and-victory-and-those-visitors-who-want-indians-to-stay-virtually-the-same-part-1/
In other words, the Pygmalion effect is a phenomenon in which with grater expectation placed on students, children or employees, you will get a better performance from them. This Effect may be seen in any place at any moment in a work ambient, scholar ambient or even at home. Using the Pygmalion effect managers and anyone in charge of personnel management can create better employees, just bringing them confidence. That is simply to say that potential creates potential.
In order to explain in a better way this topic I will took an investigation madeby Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson. This was a classic experiment made with elementary school children from 18 classrooms, in which they randomly chose 20% of the children from each room and told the teachers they were geniuses. Naturally and showingthe Pygmalion effect those children were the best of the best. As the research shows “The children, performed admirably, gaining an average of two IQ points in verbal ability, seven points in reasoning and four points in over all IQ.” (Rosenthal & Jacobson 1992).
At the end of the experiment the teachers were informed that those students were not genius, and that they were selected in the same way that teachers were selected, randomly.
In this video you will find a brief explanation of what is this effect about and a simple and useful example that will illustrate better the idea.
References:
Envision Software, Incorporated Tampa, Florida. Disponible[Online] http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Pygmalion_Effect.html
Sehgal, A. The Pygmalion Effect - Belief in potential creates potential. 2009. Disponible [Online] http://www.chrmglobal.com/Replies/2953/1/The-Pygmalion-Effect-.html
Machaalani, M. The Pygamlion Effect. 2005. Disponible[Online] http://www.accomplishlife.com/blogs/8/The-Pygmalion-Effect.html
Images taken from:
http://thingaboutskins.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/my-friend-chad-victims-and-victory-and-those-visitors-who-want-indians-to-stay-virtually-the-same-part-1/
Video taken from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wl_MZc1cTU&feature=related
Hi Alejo, i really enjoy your blog and your comment and case about the Pygmalion effect.
ResponderEliminarI like the case that you expose because it explain very clear how a good motivation can increase the performance of the students
I hope to see more of you often.
As Alejandro said in his post, The pygmalion effect can be reflected and applied in several environments; at work, at home, even studying and in personal issues.
ResponderEliminarI think this effect can be really useful due to all the motivational factors that are involved in it, which make the actor accomplish the task or goal the observer wants him to achieve.
I really liked the video because it shows different examples in which pygmalion effect works but also it shows how can affect the perceiver expectation when the pygmalion effect is not being used.
Nice example! I cannot still believe that does really happen. It's hard to believe that things as simple as high expectations on others could significantly rise its efficiency and performance of an individual, or in this case: little children! I guess I have to try it myself for further research.
ResponderEliminarIn matters of learning I propose here another experiment made with university/college students, but not to make this an extensive comment, I will simply link My Blog Here
The self-fulfilling prophecy was clearly explained and the video help me to understand it better; I like a lot the sentence “potential creates potential”, I totally agree with that. And concerning to the example is amazing how expectations and the image the world has about you, conditions your performance.
ResponderEliminar