Self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 1

What is self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 1

• It is based on the idea that society’s reaction to deviant behaviour has important consequences for the future behaviour of a deviant person.

Question 2

What is step one of self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 2

• Perceiver has expectations of a target person e.g. the new work colleague is unfriendly.

Question 3

What is step two of self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 3

• Perceiver’s behaviour towards the target reflects their expectations e.g. when she arrives in the office, you do not bother to introduce yourself

Question 4

What is step three of self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 4

• Target’s behaviour towards the perceiver reflects how the perceiver has treated them e.g. she sits at the desk and does not speak to anybody

Question 5

RECIDIVISM

Answer 5

• The self-fufiling prophecy can explain recidivism.
• Once an individual has the label of criminal it can be hard to shift.
• As people reinforce that level by their behaviour, it can become part of the individuals self concept, producing further deviant behaviour

Question 6

What happens if someone is labelled in a certain way?

Answer 6

• If someone is labelled in a certain way -> as a low achiever or good at maths or as a criminal -> there is a process by which this label might come true.