Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Self-Fulling Prophecy- 2


According to Robert Merton self-fulfilling prophecy refers to "a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true" (as cited in Bearman and Hedstrom, 2009). Our mind is a powerful part of our being and is capable to handling complex thoughts processes and thinking patterns. Generally, we function in an automatic response mode and predominantly the automatic response to a negative situation or event is negative. Since we subconsciously function in an auto response mode, we draw negative or false definitions from a negative situation. People who have the tendency to get easily worked up in a negative situation engage in monologue repeatedly with respect to their false definitions. As per the self-fulfilling prophecy negative thought patterns and feelings evoke strong negative behaviors, expressions and responses which in turn cause negative vibes in themselves and their life thus making their false conception become true.

We may have fears or anxieties or negative thoughts about ourselves/others which may not be true, yet we may assume it to be true and respond accordingly. This affects our behaviors, expressions and in turn outcomes making our belief come true. For instance, if I fear that my worst kind of migraine may end up into aneurysm or cause me to collapse, it affects the way I respond to my condition making it further worse. However, I can choose how I react to my condition or situation and it takes mental energy to respond positively to a negative situation or condition.

Most of us have an innate desire or need to know things that are about to happen in advance. However, if we are not cautious we may be engaging in self-fulfilling prophecy needlessly...

Reference
Bearman, P. and Hedström, P. (2009). Self-Fulfilling Prophecies. The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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