Describe the self-fulfilling prophecy. What factors can help prevent a self-fulfilling prophecy from occurring?
What will be an ideal response?
The self-fulfilling prophecy is the process by which a perceiver's expectations about a
person can eventually lead that person to behave in ways that confirm those
expectations. Self-fulfilling prophecies are less likely to occur if the perceiver is highly
motivated to seek the truth and form an accurate assessment of the target, or if the
perceiver is primarily motivated to make a good impression and be liked. If targets are
aware of the perceiver's expectations about them, they may be able and motivated to
disconfirm these expectations and thus avoid the self-fulfilling prophecy. Also, if the
perceiver's expectations clash with the target's self-concept, the target's behavior may
be less likely to be influenced by expectation.
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In an ironic twist, psychopaths:
A. experience high stress when exposed to stress B. can be successfully treated as long as they are identified and helped in early childhood C. have high self-esteem D. can love family members
A common characteristic of serial killers is:
A. a traumatic childhood event B. being an only child C. college-educated D. close relationships with a few friends
The emphasis on aggressiveness and vigilance in herding communities fosters a culture of ________ ________________
a. independence. b. control. c. honor. d. competition.
Before studying for the midterm exam, Class A was told to expect a multiple-choice test and Class B was told to expect an essay test. Both classes actually got a multiple-choice test, and Class A performed better on the test. This result is most consistent with the __________ model of memory.
A. levels-of-processing B. information-processing C. parallel distributed processing D. transfer-appropriate processing