The Pygmalion Effect

Studying a course in management has its own share of “fun” subjects. We had a couple last term, and thankfully, we have some true “beauties” this term. One of them goes by the name MPPO – Managing People and Performance in Organizations. So much for the regal sounding name. Its basically Organizational Behavior repackaged, and the students can’t care less. Most of us, me definitely included, use the 1.5 hrs twice a week to catch up on lost orkutting and surfing, while the professor rambles on in his dream world.

I wouldn’t have bothered to mention the subject though, had it not provided me with the topic for my current blog. Buried in the professors words, was a gem called the “Pygmalion Effect”, and I was impelled to ponder over it a bit further.

Also known as the “teacher-expectancy effect”, it says that students perform better when teachers expect stellar performances from them. This effect is all around us – sportspersons perform better when the crowd cheers them, workers perform better when they have the support of their boss, and we all feel strengthened when we have the well-wishes of our near and dear ones with us. I distinctly remember an incident in 7th grade. My 'Hindi' teacher admonished me for poor performance in a class test, and informed me that she expected much better from me. As if on cue, and like a self-fulfilling prophecy, my performance and interest in the subject improved dramatically.

But alas! Over the years, I believe that an “inverse” Pygmalion effect is taking hold of me. Living up to expectations is not easy, believe me, and sometimes I have been forced to rue thus – "The weight of expectations is hardest to bear". As time goes on, and the mind gets muddled with all sorts of doubts and insecurities, even the most hardened pros can wilt under pressure. And these are the occasions that this 'weight' of expectations pulls one down. Strange! The same thing can work for you and against you, and the people who care for you can actually do some unintentional harm.