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Rosenthal Effect
A general characteristic of human nature is that people tend to judge themselves, especially their competence and worth, based on the perception of others. The term Rosenthal effect refers to this internalization of expectations from a perceived authority figure by the recipient. Four terms are used to describe this same phenomenon, generally interchangeably: Pygmalion effect, Rosenthal effect, self-fulfilling prophecy, and expectancy effect. Another associated term—Hawthorne effect—underscores the complete understanding of the Rosenthal effect. In this entry, these terms are further examined, and implications for research and practical applications, particularly within the education system, are examined for the Rosenthal effect. It is imperative that researchers obtain a clear understanding of the Rosenthal effect because the impact of another person's expectations of recipients can generate very powerful effects on them and their resultant behaviors. As a result, researchers may wish either to research this phenomenon further or guard against its impact when collecting data.
History
The term Pygmalion effect first came into existence with the Greek mythological tale of Pygmalion and Galatea. Pygmalion was a sculptor who wished to create the perfect woman, whom he proceeded to carve from ivory. His creation was the epitome of his idea of womanhood, and he wished with all his heart for her to be a real woman. He prayed to the goddess Aphrodite and entreated her to allow Galatea to become flesh and blood. The goddess granted his wish, and Pygmalion and Galatea became husband and wife.
In 1916, George Bernard Shaw wrote the play Pygmalion, in which the lead character, Professor Higgins, transformed a common flower girl into a lady, so much so that he could pass her off as a duchess. The flower girl internalized the fact that the professor was convinced that she could metamorphose, and this boosted her own confidence in her ability to successfully transcend her meager and lowly beginnings to become—the desire of her own heart—a lady. It was from these stories that the term Pygmalion effect was coined. Specifically, Shaw's plot demonstrated a real-world application of the expectancy effect. However, both of these stories reflect one basic premise: that if a person believes that something can be achieved, then it really can be achieved!
Real-World Application
The Rosenthal effect was named in honor of Robert Rosenthal, who studied the expectancy phenomenon extensively, originally with a student sample. To best illustrate the power wielded by the Pygmalion effect, Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson conducted research at an elementary educational institution. They were curious about what would happen to the expectations of both teachers and students if students were unsuspectingly and randomly chosen and touted as having high potential. A deception involved the students’ having to take a supposedly highly credible test that would make the predictions about the student's potential. The results of the deception on subsequent teacher expectations—which in turn influenced the levels of student confidence in their own potential—confirmed the Pygmalion/Rosenthal effect. Once the high-potential students were identified by the “test,” the researchers found that when positive expectations were evident from teachers, the students were motivated to strive toward the goal due to renewed or increased self-confidence. As a result, success was usually and significantly apparent. However, the converse also proved to be true: When teacher expectations about students were negative, the students become convinced of their incompetence, and failure was the common result.
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