Pygmalion in the Classroom

A sculptor-king named Pygmalion fell so much in love with the perfectly beautiful statue ‘Galathea’ that he had created, and guess what…. the statue came to life!.?The Pygmalion effect could be named after this Greek myth, yet the ‘power of expectation’ in improving performance is an undeniable truth.

The "Pygmalion in the Classroom" study conducted by psychologists Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson in the 1960s is a real-life example that demonstrates the Pygmalion Effect. This study explored the impact of teacher expectations on students' performance and intellectual development.

The story goes as below:

• Rosenthal and Jacobson informed teachers at an elementary school that a group of students had been identified as "intellectual bloomers" based on a mock test. Behind the screen, these students were actually randomly selected.
• The study revealed that the teachers' heightened expectations influenced their interactions with the students. They provided more individualized attention, opportunities for participation, and positive feedback to the students labeled as "intellectual bloomers." Consequently, these students developed increased confidence and motivation, leading to improved performance.
• As the school year progressed, the researchers observed that the students labeled as "intellectual bloomers" excelled in their academic performance compared to their peers.
• Unintended Effects: While the study demonstrated the Pygmalion Effect, it also highlighted the potential negative impact of low expectations. Students who were not labeled as "intellectual bloomers" underperformed.

The "Pygmalion in the Classroom" study highlights the profound influence of educators' expectations on students' academic outcomes.

So when we need to improve the performance of someone or a team, now, we know what to do.