The Pygmalion effect is a psychological effect discovered by Robert Rosenthal (a social psychologist at Harvard University) in the late 1960s (it is also called the Rosenthal Effect).
What does this effect produce?
Our expectations and beliefs about someone influence their behaviour and results
In the 1960s, Rosenthal and headteacher Lenore Jacobson conducted an experiment at Spruce Elementary School in South San Francisco.
The research began with a test for pupils called the Harvard Test of Inflected Acquisition (which we could describe as a test of learning potential), intended to identify "bloomers": pupils with greater potential who might "flourish" into academics and/or society's brilliant minds.
The test results were communicated to teachers, who received a list of bloomers (the best pupils according to the scores), with instructions to treat them the same as other children and not disclose the list to anyone.
Unknown to the teachers, however, the list of bloomers had been created entirely at random 😲. The test served only to determine the children's intelligence quotients (IQs) for later comparison.
Rosenthal waited one academic year, then returned to the same classes to repeat the test.
Interestingly, after a year, the tests for changes in IQ showed that pupils on the list had improved their intelligence quotients much more (by a full 26 points) than the control group outside the list.
Why?
Because teachers held higher opinions and expectations of the children who were more gifted on paper, and were consequently more inclined to support them and explain the subject even when difficulties arose.
Although teachers were supposed to treat all pupils equally, an unconscious difference in perception emerged. Presumably, when children on the list failed to understand an explanation, the teacher questioned their own ability rather than the pupils', and therefore made a greater effort to be understood.
This effect occurs in every setting: school, family, sport and work.
A coach's or manager's initial perception has the same effect on a person.
This is why it is also called the self-fulfilling prophecy effect: the person making a judgement forms a prophecy in their mind that influences the behaviour, and therefore the results, of the person receiving it.
If a football coach thinks a player is talented, they give that player special attention, encouragement and timely corrections. In turn, the player feels supported and appreciated and puts even more effort into training.
Feeling supported and appreciated has extraordinary power over motivation.
Expect the best of others, and the best is what you will get!
As you might expect, the effect also works in reverse, producing negative consequences and turning a virtuous circle into a vicious one.
Maria Montessori understood negative expectations well (even before Rosenthal formalised them), having faced considerable prejudice as one of the first Italian women to graduate in medicine.
For this reason, a fundamental principle of her teaching method was to avoid negative thoughts and expectations about pupils, because these would be transmitted to them harmfully.
Awareness of the Pygmalion effect can greatly help us communicate with our children, avoiding labels and judgements (especially concerning study) that negatively affect self-esteem.
Unfortunately, it is part of human psychology: even the most capable people, at any age, may find themselves listed among those perceived as less talented or able (in sport, school or work).
I think we should not become discouraged but demonstrate our value through actions. No preconception is beyond being overturned by facts and hard work.
One of the greatest satisfactions is succeeding in changing someone's opinion of you.
Clearly, we must also assess the context and the opportunity costs of changing someone's mind versus working with people who appreciate us from the start (or have no preconceptions).
Likewise, we need to understand whether we are suited to a particular profession, sport or activity, and perhaps find our place by changing direction (without blaming the context for our shortcomings).
In business, it is no coincidence that people say:
people do not leave jobs; they leave their managers
Conversely, people appreciated by their managers often follow them to other companies.
The story of a car given by a father is a wonderful illustration.
The story of the value of a car given as a gift
A father said to his daughter, who had just graduated:
"I have a gift for you: a car I bought years ago for this very moment. It is a little dated, but before I give it to you, take it to the used-car dealer near our home, say you want to sell it and see what they offer.".
The next day, the daughter went to the dealer and returned with the valuation: "They offered me 900 euros because it is a little damaged and old.".
Then her father told her to try the pawnbroker. The next day, she said: "The pawnbroker offered only 150 euros because all they can recover from such an old car are a few parts and the metal bodywork.".
Her father asked her to make one last attempt: go to the neighbouring town, where there was a car club, and ask them for a valuation too.
The daughter returned, thrilled and astonished: "Dad, you will not believe what happened! When I arrived at the club in your car, everyone went wild, and several people offered me almost 100,000 euros. The director told me it is a 1970s Datsun 240Z, a classic highly sought after by collectors, with only about 500 examples still around."
Her father looked at her intently and said:
"Remember, the right place is one that values you. Give your best and show your worth, but if it is not appreciated, do not be angry: it means you are in the wrong place.
Never stay somewhere no one sees your worth. Time is precious and does not come back.
Have courage, passion and respect for yourself and your work.
If someone does not appreciate these qualities, politely say goodbye and close the door. Soon a bigger door will open, and behind it you will find people who welcome and appreciate you for what you deserve and have worked for with perseverance and love.
Loving what you do is the key to happiness.”
The origin and meaning of the name Pygmalion
The meaning of the name Pygmalion comes from ancient Greek stories that inspired the poet Ovid. In his poem Metamorphoses, Pygmalion was a talented sculptor who created a statue of a woman so perfect that he fell desperately in love, praying to Aphrodite, goddess of love, to bring his work to life.
The statue had no name, but eighteenth-century writers called her Galatea.
Below is Angelo Bronzino's painting Pygmalion and Galatea, held in Florence's Uffizi Gallery.
The same Greek story inspired Shaw's play Pygmalion, replacing the statue with an uneducated girl of humble origins whom a devoted teacher tries to educate for high society.
Inspired by these stories, Rosenthal found the name perfect for his discovery.
In everyday language, Pygmalion means a teacher who trains and educates someone starting from scratch in a particular field.
A possible synonym is mentor.