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Personal Development
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Submitted to: Ms. Christine Joy L. Corvera

Submitted by: Lanny M. Roberto

The Pygmalion Effect, also known as Rosenthal Experiment, is a phenomenon in which higher
expectations lead to higher performance. It is named after Robert Rosenthal, a teacher in
Harvard who experimented on students' expectations to a given task. Rosenthal stated that our
beliefs about a person's ability influence our actions toward them. This action creates an impact
to one's belief about themselves which cause their actions toward us to strengthen our primary
impression about them. The Pygmalion effect can be positive and negative in nature. It can
boost one's self esteem to do better, and decrease one's conficence about a given task.

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced Pygmalion Effect? Share your experience.

2. Do you think bigyer expectations may lead to higher performance? Why? Why not?

3. Do you think Pygmalion Effect may be applied to children in order to boost their
performance?

Answers: (A)

1. Yes, when a particular participant showed an excellent performance, and the other has low
self-esteem to perform in front. I unconsciously gave them a category in which divides the both
of them according to their skills.

2. Yes. It somehow boosts one's ability to reached the expectations.

3. Yes. It can boost children's confidence to perform well in class, but it must be moderate. If
children were exposed to high expectations at the early stage, it may result to rebellion in their
adolescence.

Answers: (B)
1. Yes, when one of my nephews stood among the rest because she can play a piano while the
others can't. I always give her my complete attention, and unconsciously neglect my other
nephews.

2. Yes because it somehow pressures an individual to perform in the best of health or her
abilities.

3. No. Children are too young to experience high expectations from their parents or adult family
members.

Answers: (C)

1. Yes, I had. I have two sisters. One of them loves studying and the other loves pairing her
clothes up. I also love studying, so I'm close to my other sister while I don't give much attention
to the other. I have different approach for the two of them, and somehow I treat my other
sister as someone who can also take my course while the other as someone who won't do good
in her life based on what I can see in her behavior right now.

2. Yes because it gives one a motivation to do better.

3. Yes. At the early age, exposing an individual to expectation may result to early enhancement
of his or her skills.
Generalization

I therefore conclude that people are executing the Pygmalion Effect, but unaware of its whole
concept. According to the answers of three interviewees, Rosenthal Experiment somehow
boosts one's self-esteem and motivates him or her to improve.

Pygmalion Effect only proves that an individual's actions towards other people affects his or her
in a positive and negative way. Thus, being cautious about one's actions is a must in order to
avoid misunderstanding and quarrel between two or more people.