The Pygmalion Effect: How Belief in a Person Can Change Their Life

Article | Psychology

When a teacher praises a student for a "brilliant" drawing, that student suddenly starts drawing better. When a boss tells an employee, "You'll definitely handle this project," they actually pull it off at a higher level. But what if it's the opposite—constantly hearing "you'll never make it" or "this isn't for you"? A person seems to freeze, loses motivation, and truly stops moving forward. This isn't just words or coincidence. It's a real psychological mechanism called the Pygmalion effect. And it permeates every part of our lives: from childhood to relationships and careers.

Where Did the Name Come From?

The name comes from an ancient Greek myth. The sculptor Pygmalion carved a statue of a woman so beautiful that he fell in love with it. He believed so strongly that she was alive, desired it so passionately, that the goddess Aphrodite brought the statue to life—Galatea became a real woman. In psychology, this myth became a metaphor: what we believe about others (or ourselves) can become reality. Not through magic, of course, but through how we behave, how we treat people, and what we communicate nonverbally.

How Does It Really Work? A Simple Explanation

Picture a typical classroom situation. A teacher accidentally (or not) starts believing more in one student. They praise them more often, ask more interesting questions, give harder tasks, smile, make eye contact. The student senses this—and subconsciously starts to match it. They try harder, believe in themselves, and their brain absorbs information better. This triggers a chain: better results $\to$ more praise $\to$ greater confidence $\to$ even better results.

But there's a flip side—the Golem effect (named after a clay giant brought to life but who became destructive). If no one believes in a person, if they're constantly criticized or ignored—they start living up to those low expectations. Motivation drops, fear of failure appears, the person "shuts down." And this isn't laziness. It's the brain's response to social cues.

Psychologically, this is explained through a self-fulfilling prophecy. The term was coined by sociologist Robert Merton in 1948. The idea is simple: expectations influence behavior, behavior influences outcomes, and outcomes confirm the original expectations. And it goes in a loop.

The Study That Started It All

It all began with an experiment in an American school in the 1960s. Psychologists Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson conducted a study that became a classic. They took an ordinary elementary school in San Francisco. At the start of the school year, they tested all the children and then told teachers: "We've tested the kids with a new Harvard test. Here's a list of those who showed high potential—they'll 'bloom' over the year." In reality, the list was random—names were just pulled from a hat.

A year later, the kids from this "gifted list" really did show better results on IQ tests and grades. The difference was especially noticeable in younger grades. The study was published in the book Pygmalion in the Classroom (1968). Here are the key numbers:

Kids with "expected high performance" raised their IQ by an average of 12 points.
In the control group—only 4 points.

Why? Teachers unconsciously gave these kids more attention, patience, and challenging tasks. The kids picked up on it—and responded.

Source: Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the Classroom: Teacher Expectation and Pupils' Intellectual Development. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

What Do Other Studies Show?

The Pygmalion effect isn't limited to schools. It's found everywhere:

In business. Managers who believe in their team get better results. A 2015 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed: when leaders went through training to raise their expectations—team productivity rose by 15–20%.
In sports. A coach who says "you can run a marathon" has a stronger impact than one who stays silent. Studies with Israeli military personnel (1970s) showed: soldiers whom commanders saw as "promising" performed better on tests.
In medicine. Doctors who believe in a patient's recovery transmit that—and patients actually recover faster. This partly explains the placebo effect, but with a social component.
In families. Parents who believe in their children's abilities and express that belief—raise kids with higher self-esteem. Conversely, phrases like "you always mess everything up" can program a child for failure.

Interestingly, the effect works in reverse too. In the 1980s, researchers found: if teachers label a child "problematic," even without basis—they really do start performing worse.

What About Self-Expectations?

The Pygmalion effect doesn't just work when someone believes in us. It works when we believe in ourselves. This is called self-expectancy. If you think: "I'm not cut out for math"—your brain effectively blocks effort. But if "I can figure it out"—you actually do.

Psychologist Albert Bandura called this self-efficacy. People with high self-efficacy set harder goals, persist longer through failures, and achieve more. It's not about innate talent—it's about belief backed by experience.

How to Use It in Life?

Here are a few simple but effective ideas:

For parents and teachers. Praise effort, not outcome. Instead of "you're a genius"—say "I see how hard you tried, that's awesome." Carol Dweck's research (fixed vs. growth mindset) shows: this builds belief in development, not an innate "gift."
For managers. Give clear but achievable tasks. Belief in someone isn't "you're the best," but "I know you can do this, and here's why."
For yourself. Watch your inner dialogue. Instead of "I'll never learn"—say "I haven't learned yet, but I can." Write down small wins—they create proof for your brain.
In relationships. Tell your partner what you believe in them. Not "you're perfect," but "I see how you're growing, and it inspires me."

Are There Limits?

Yes. The Pygmalion effect isn't a magic wand. If someone has real issues (like clinical depression, a lack of basic skills, or is in a toxic environment)—belief alone isn't enough. Support, resources, and sometimes therapy are needed. But even then, positive expectations can speed up progress.

Also, the effect can be negative if expectations are too high. Unrealistic pressure like "you must be the best" leads to burnout. Balance is key.

Conclusion: You Are the Sculptor of Your Own Pygmalion

Every day, we're all a little bit Pygmalion. What we believe about our kids, colleagues, friends, and ourselves—shapes reality. Not with magic, but through small things: a look, a word, a task, a smile. Science proves it: expectations shape behavior, and behavior shapes results.

So next time you want to say "you can't do it"—pause. Try: "I believe you'll try." And see what happens.

Your Galatea might not come to life. But they'll definitely become a little stronger.