Heard of the Pygmalion Effect?

Recently I was watching YouTube and heard a term that I hadn't heard before.

The Pygmalion Effect.

My ears immediately pricked up and I was like oooooooohhhh what's that?...

The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon in which higher expectations lead to improved performance. It suggests that when someone believes in another person’s potential and treats them accordingly, that person is more likely to rise to the occasion and achieve greater success.

This effect operates as a 'self-fulfilling prophecy''.

Now before you think I am about to go all 'sci fi' on you (although I do love sci fi) - what it mean's is....

IF a leader, mentor, or teacher expects high performance, the individual is more likely to meet or exceed those expectations. I want to be clear here though, I am talking about when they expect high performance but also provide psychological safety and support and well wishes. And sure there might be some little nudges along the way, but it's well meaning, not self serving such as the rigid expectations that can be forced upon us by others, removing our choice, natural desires or agency.

The Pygmalion Effect is named after the ancient Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he created.

According to the myth, his deep belief and admiration for the statue were so strong that it was eventually brought to life by the goddess Aphrodite. (can you imagine?)

The psychological application of the term was first introduced by Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson in their 1968 study on educational psychology. Their research, published in Pygmalion in the Classroom, demonstrated how teachers expectations influenced students academic performance.

In their experiment, they randomly told teachers that certain students were “intellectual bloomers,” and those students, despite being chosen at random, showed significant improvement simply because teachers treated them with higher expectations.

The Pygmalion Effect is a reminder that belief shapes behaviour.

And I discuss beliefs at length, including their foundational influence in fuelling Imposter Syndrome in my book Conquer Your Imposter™ - Chapter 2 - Imposter Origins.

The Pygmalion Effect works because external belief fuels internal performance, but when Imposter Syndrome is in the driver’s seat, that external belief often doesn’t land, because despite evidence of success and competence, we aren't internalising it properly. We still believe we are not worthy, not deserving and are frauds / fooling everyone.

When we succeed, these beliefs tell us it’s a fluke. When we fail, they assure us our fraudulence has been unveiled - Alison Shamir

BUT - Here's how you can channel a little Pygmalion Effect.

It requires intentionality (one of my fav words) in how we process external validation and expectations.

Here’s how:

1. Begin slowly - Learn to accept other people’s belief in you (if you respect them, feel safe around them and they believe in you, perhaps they're right?)

2. Using external expectations as a mirror for your own potential

Instead of letting high expectations trigger Imposter feelings / fear (What if I fail?), Intercept them and question yourself: If they expect this of me, maybe I truly am capable / do belong here?

3. Grounding yourself in the evidence of your own success

Since Imposter Syndrome disregards evidence, pause and question yourself: When someone expects more of you, don’t immediately dismiss it, push back and connect to something tangible: Ask yourself: What past success, project, or moment proves I can meet (or exceed) this expectation?

4. Making the self-fulfilling prophecy work in your favour

If fear is going to fabricate worst-case scenarios, use the Pygmalion Effect to manufacture best-case ones instead: Instead of “I’ll fail and they’ll find out I’m a fraud”, try “What if I actually rise to the occasion and prove to myself that I’m capable?”

At its core, Imposter Syndrome makes us resist the evidence of our competence.

The Pygmalion Effect, when applied intentionally, can help us lean into it, this action will help belief catch up with reality much faster.

When someone expects greatness from you, don’t dismiss it.

Instead, use it as a tool to question and rewrite your internal narrative.

Until next week.

Alison

PS- Conquer Your Imposter™ is available globally via Print and Kindle (Audible coming soon) - click here

By purchasing Conquer Your Imposter™ you're not just understanding, navigating and conquering Imposter Syndrome, you're also contributing to a very important cause with a portion of every order being donated to Women's Community Shelters

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