What is the self fulfilling prophecy?

Labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy explains criminal and anti-social behaviour in terms of societal factors, specifically the way others behave towards you.The self-fulfilling prophecy shows how a belief or expectation of a person/group whether correct or not, affects the way a person/group will behave.The concept of labelling is crucial. Labelling is using a generic and broad term to describe members of a minority group. The labels use inferior terms and imply negative connotations. The term is linked with the concept of stereotyping, which is a generalised and simplified view of an individual or situation that is based on limited evidence. E.g. most criminals are working class.Labelling someone a criminal and then treating that person as such may produce criminal behaviour in the person who is subjected to this expectation.This is because they see themselves in terms of the criminal label. The person fulfils the criminal label and becomes what the label says – a criminal. The prophecy fulfils itself.

Related Psychology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Which of Mary Ainsworths attachment type is most commonly associated with positive later life social development?


Describe and Discuss the methods that are used in the UK for measuring crime


Outline and evalute Milgram's research into obediance.


The Central Executive is one feature of the working memory model. Name and describe the function of 2 other features of the model.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences