Define Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is A self-fulfilling prophecy is a belief or expectation that influences a person's behavior in such a way that it ultimately brings about the expected outcome. In other words, when someone believes something will happen, they may unconsciously behave in a way that actually causes that belief to come true.

This concept is important to understanding social inequality because it can perpetuate and reinforce existing inequalities. For example, if a teacher believes that certain students are not capable of academic success, they may inadvertently treat those students differently, providing less support and encouragement, which can ultimately lead to the students underperforming. This then reinforces the initial belief that the students are not capable, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Another example of a self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of social inequality is the "cycle of poverty." If individuals from low-income backgrounds are constantly told and made to feel that they will never be able to escape poverty, they may internalize this belief and not strive for better opportunities, ultimately perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

In both of these examples, the self-fulfilling prophecy becomes a mechanism through which social inequality is maintained and perpetuated. By understanding this concept, we can work towards breaking these cycles and creating more equitable opportunities for all individuals.

Define Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

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