self-fulfilling prophecy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Business
Quick answer
What does “self-fulfilling prophecy” mean?
A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
A situation where an individual's or group's expectations about a future event influence their actions in such a way that the expected outcome is ultimately brought about. This concept is central to sociology, psychology, and economics, describing how beliefs can shape reality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling: 'fulfilling' (both), though older British texts may hyphenate more consistently. The concept is equally prevalent.
Connotations
Neutral to negative; typically describes an undesirable or problematic cycle, though can be neutral in academic analysis.
Frequency
Equally common in both academic and general discourse in the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “self-fulfilling prophecy” in a Sentence
X is a self-fulfilling prophecyto create/avoid a self-fulfilling prophecythe prophecy that X became self-fulfillingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-fulfilling prophecy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fear of recession could self-fulfil if consumer spending drops.
- Their prophecy was effectively self-fulfilled by market panic.
American English
- The CEO's warning risked self-fulfilling if investors lost confidence.
- Pessimistic forecasts can sometimes self-fulfill.
adverb
British English
- The prediction acted self-fulfillingly, shaping the events it foretold. (Rare)
American English
- The market reacted almost self-fulfillingly to the analyst's report. (Rare)
adjective
British English
- The self-fulfilling nature of the rumour was alarming.
- They were caught in a self-fulfilling cycle of doubt.
American English
- It was a classic self-fulfilling prophecy scenario.
- We must avoid self-fulfilling logic in our planning.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business, a rumor of a company's insolvency can become a self-fulfilling prophecy if it causes investors to withdraw funding.
Academic
The sociological study examined how teacher expectations can operate as a self-fulfilling prophecy, affecting student performance.
Everyday
If you keep telling yourself you'll fail the interview, it might become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Technical
In economics, a belief in a future bank run can function as a self-fulfilling prophecy, triggering the run itself.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-fulfilling prophecy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-fulfilling prophecy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-fulfilling prophecy”
- Using it for any accurate prediction (e.g., 'The weather forecast was a self-fulfilling prophecy').
- Misspelling as 'self-fullfilling' or 'self-fullfilment prophecy'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He self-fulfilled the prophecy').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, though it is most commonly discussed in negative contexts (e.g., failure, recession). Positive versions exist (e.g., the Pygmalion effect, where high expectations lead to improved performance), but the term itself is neutral.
Not standardly. The term is a noun phrase. While creative uses like 'self-fulfill' are occasionally seen, they are non-standard. It's best to use phrases like 'become a self-fulfilling prophecy' or 'make the prophecy self-fulfilling'.
It is a core concept in sociology (Robert K. Merton), social psychology, and economics. It bridges the study of social beliefs and tangible outcomes.
A self-fulfilling prophecy specifically starts with a belief or prediction that shapes behavior to cause the predicted event. A vicious cycle describes any reinforcing negative loop, which may not originate from a belief.
A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
Self-fulfilling prophecy is usually formal, academic, business in register.
Self-fulfilling prophecy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself fʊlˈfɪl.ɪŋ ˈprɒf.ə.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself fʊlˈfɪl.ɪŋ ˈprɑː.fə.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A prophecy that writes its own future.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a prophecy that is so confident it gets up and FULFILLS its own job description (SELF).
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEFS ARE BUILDERS (of reality); THE FUTURE IS A SCRIPT WE PERFORM.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'self-fulfilling prophecy' used CORRECTLY?