Usually, if you fear something, your behaviour changes and you actually cause your own fear to become a reality. (i.e. acting insecure in a relationship actually pushes the other person away) But, can you change it so that if you believe in something, your behaviour change can actually cause your wish to come to fruitation?
2007-03-22 02:03:59 · 10 answers · asked by ezydriver 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Yes. It's called the Pygmallian/experimenter expectency effect. E.g. One researcher found that when students were split into 2 groups and told to train either 'dull' rats or 'bright' rats (in fact, all of the rats were exactly the same), the 'bright' rats performed better in the maze (i.e. got through it faster). This is because the students who were training the 'bright' rats expected more of them and therefore did more with them to boost their performance (e.g. extra practice), so they did perform better in the end. There is also evidence to suggest that this can happen with teachers and 'bright' children.
Hope this answers your question!
2007-03-22 06:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by ice.mario 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can, it really works. I've been using cognitive behaviour therapy for several problems. I heard sports therapists use it with athletes as well - basically they repeatedly visualise themselves jumping the high bar, or whatever, and its supposed to help them do it in real life.
If you have a fear, you analyse what triggers it, then make up a different ending for the 'play', then repeatedly see yourself doing it. It has to be realistic and achievable so you can believe it. So you can't see yourself winning an olympic medal by jumping the high bar for example, because you don't know how to do it! But you can learn to react differently to problems that you have experience with.
Its also easier if you take a step by step approach to it. Its not very realistic to hold a tarantula in one week if you're an arachnaphobe, but you might be able to tolerate being in the same room as one thats in a cage.
2007-03-22 02:21:27 · answer #2 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep.... It's called the Power of Positive Thinking. It's also the basis for that new system making the rounds called "The Secret".
The real problem is most of us have a self-defeating twist to our thinking. Life has discouraged us enough that many of us tend to let the weeds of negative thoughts grow and choke out those seeds of positive thinking and self-empowerment.
Instead of just trying to focus our efforts just on trying to think positive, we need to get better about tending our garden and pull some weeds.
2007-03-22 02:37:25 · answer #3 · answered by Shaman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe in positive visualization. You can change your behavior to affect your life and future in a positive way. Positive affirmations really do help. I think we do become what we fill our minds with and that can be a negative or a positive outcome.
2007-03-22 03:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can have self fullfilling prophecy be a ggod thing aways look at things in positve way focus on the good things they can turn out great.
2007-03-22 02:18:09 · answer #5 · answered by Mary B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-05 05:40:16 · answer #6 · answered by Pearson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-02-20 00:08:31 · answer #7 · answered by walker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is the mechanism behind a whole host of self help systems.
2007-03-22 02:10:24 · answer #8 · answered by meerkat 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think so.
In fact, I am trying it out on my current weight loss program. Instead of visualizing myself failing like every other time, I am envisioning myself healthy and strong.
2007-03-22 02:10:03 · answer #9 · answered by Leslie M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its true to a point. Im sorry I cant remember the name of the experiment on luck. But it was really interesting on how your behavior makes you appear luck but its just a state of mind.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3335275.stm
2007-03-22 02:17:46 · answer #10 · answered by Psycho Chicken! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋