Have you ever had a thought come true about a situation that awaits you in the future? For example, the first day at a new job or the thoughts before a first date. Human beings have always tried to anticipate events as a protective measure, to be prepared for what may happen. One of the psychological phenomena on which this fact is based is the self-fulfilling prophecy.
Thinking about the future is something common to all people. We all have assumptions about what may be coming in a few days, weeks or months. The problem arises when we start thinking about it. anticipate events and future consequences with a security crushing. In this article, you can check out the disadvantages of developing a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Self-fulfilling prophecy is a phenomenon whereby your expectations for the future become reality.
It is normal to have a certain certainty about certain future events that you have previous experience with. If you have felt dizzy on a ride, for example, it is likely that if you get on the ride again you will have the same final sensation.
However, self-fulfilling prophecies do not come true. are not based on any logical basis or reasonable to support that thought. The bias of this theory is based on the analyses that the sociologist Robert King Merton carried out as a result of the studies of William I. Thomass. Merton delved deeper into Thomas's studies and came to the conclusion that society respond to the sensations that a situation awakens in them and not to an objective reality.
Human beings act according to their beliefs and expectations, that is an unquestionable fact. In addition, the self-fulfilling prophecy causes another mistake to be made in behavior, which is confirmation bias. This confirmation bias is about a irrational belief which is based on a person's way of acting to confirm perceptions about a situation.
Phrases like “I told you so” or “I already knew” are often recurrent in people who have confirmation bias. This bias causes your perception of situations to be manipulated and wrong, because it is subjective and will be imbued with personal beliefs.
Self-fulfilling prophecy and confirmation bias fall under what is known in the field of psychology as cognitive biases: false beliefs caused by subjectivity and the distorted view of reality. This conditioning occurs involuntarily, but it helps to make decisions quickly and intuitively.
How can a psychologist help me in these cases?
Do you think that everything bad that you suspect is coming true? Do not hesitate to put yourself in the hands of an expert. At we have been experts in online therapy since 2012. Throughout our career We have helped more than 1,600 patients overcome various emotional problems. If you are interested in seeking the help of an online psychologist, you can request a free first session by clicking on the button below.
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What are the consequences?
The main consequence of the self-fulfilling prophecy is the alert situation constants in which you will be faced with any future situation. The state of permanent alert will lead to anxiety and stress being two traveling companions. Another negative consequence is that these biases lead to the error: Believing in something doesn't mean it exists. However, your thoughts can make it happen.
How to avoid self-fulfilling prophecy?
- Gain perspective on your thoughtsIn order to control the actions that our thoughts provoke, we must analyze these thoughts. Above all, we must pay attention to the way in which these beliefs appear: whether they are flexible, whether they are based on present or future situations. We must pay attention to the language used in each case and to the concepts we use to define them.
- See if it is a behavior that is repeated frequently.. This way you will be able to see if you are anticipating a future that has not yet occurred and if your belief is formulated in negative terms. Once you are clear about this anticipation, you should ask yourself if there is any real and objective evidence that this will happen.
- Express your feelings. Take a piece of paper and analyze whether your thoughts are based on real evidence. With the help of an outside person, whether it is a friend or a family member, you can check whether these real evidences are reliable facts or are just a figment of your imagination.
- Open your mind. In order to escape the common pattern of thinking, you must focus your perspective in another direction. In no area of life is there just one way to do things. Look for other options that convince you, you are sure to find one that is satisfactory for all parties.
Self-fulfilling prophecy can be a source of discomfort and anxiety in a person. Thoughts can become constant and intrusive and fall into a spiral where negativity is a constant in your life. At this point, perhaps it is time to seek professional help to solve this difficulty.
At we have been helping patients from all over the world find their well-being since 2012. We were pioneers in offering online therapy and that is why we know that it is an economical, but equally effective, alternative to traditional therapies.
To date, more than 1,600 people have turned to us to find an online psychologist. If you also want to try our services, you can request a consultation First briefing free by clicking the button below.