A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that comes true at least in part as a result of a persons belief or expectation that said prediction would come true. It is a process through which an originally false expectation leads to its own confirmation. Here are some key points about self-fulfilling prophecies:

• Definition: A self-fulfilling prophecy is a situation where someones expectations about a particular situation cause that situation to come true.

• Examples: There are many examples of self-fulfilling prophecies, including the bank failures during the Great Depression, where false rumors led to bank runs and insolvency. Other examples include Shakespeares Macbeth, where the prophecy of becoming king leads to Macbeths downfall, and the Greek story of Oedipus, where the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother leads to his actions and his fate.

• Interpersonal Expectancy Effect: Self-fulfilling prophecy is also known as the interpersonal expectancy effect, which refers to the phenomenon whereby a persons or a groups expectation for the behavior of another person leads to the confirmation of that expectation.

• Classroom Example: In the classroom, a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a teacher holds expectations for students, which through social interaction, causes the students to behave in such a manner as to confirm the originally false (but now true) expectation. For example, lower expectations for students of color and students from disadvantaged backgrounds and higher expectations for middle-class students.

Self-fulfilling prophecies can be positive or negative, and they can have a significant impact on individuals and society. They are important to the understanding of intergroup relations and can lead to cycles of thought and behavior.