In chapter 5, I was intrigued by the notion of the "Self Fulfilling Prophecy" and how our mental state can indeed dictate the outcome of any given situation.
Our "generalized other" is a very powerful tool for success; where the chapter uses examples of how a negative consequence could be a result of self fulfilling prophecy or generalized other, what about a positive result? Couldn't a positive viewpoint of what the world is expecting of you push you to fulfill a great accomplishment the same as a negative one?
I believe it can. When you look at inherent characteristics of the most successful people in our society, they have a generally positive outlook, are eternally optimistic, and instead of sulking in the face of adversity and asking "why me?" they take action to better the situation. They realize that they are only victims if they let themselves be.
In some regards, the generalized other may be a hindrance in and of itself. If we are too wrapped up in other's expectations, we'll lose sight of the task at hand. I can see where the generalized other can become quite debilitating.
However, when we realize the power our mental state and create a positive situation for our generalized other, our self-fulfilling prophecies may come out more favorable.
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4 comments:
Self fulfilling prophecy is very interesting. I was always told to think positive and now I can see that it's true. This semester I transferred to San Jose State from a J C, I didn't know where to start and felt overwhelmed by the whole transition. I decided to be positive and just go for it. Having a goal to be successful has helped in this class, even if it is only the 2nd week.
I like where you went with your interpretation of the “self-fulfilling prophecy”. I agree that our expectations can determine the result of a situation. I enjoyed that you pointed out that our expectations of a situation can have a positive result. I definitely can relate to the self fulfilling prophecy. I believe that our expectations effect how others respond to us. I can relate this to my own life because I have noticed that when I expect a situation to turn out badly I will stress over that situation and I will make the situation worse. Usually if I have a positive attitude about something even if it has the potential to be an uncomfortable situation it turns out better than I expected.
I think being positive about things in life is not only good for your karma but also for your health. The more positive you are the more likely you are to fulfill a dream in life. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and you are the master of your own universe. So what’s the point in being grumpy and frumpy all the time when you can actually focus on the positive aspects or even focus on turning the negative in your life into positives. It seems like a logical idea to me. So be the positive force in your life and make a change.
It's absolutely necessary to have a positive outlook in life. I have always believed that negative outlooks beget negative outcomes. Self-fulfilling prophecy is all about outlook. When others don't believe in you and think you will fail, that will affect your own self-esteem, and you probably will fail. On the flip-side, it could work for you, and make you want to prove them wrong. When people believe in you and believe you will succeed, your self-esteem is higher.
My mother thinks negatively about everything. Every cloud does NOT have a silver lining in her opinion. I think her negative outlook affects her happiness because she is generally stressed, worried, and upset all the time. Seeing this has made me the most positive thinker on earth. I find the good in every situation, no matter how dismal it may look. This has led me to be a happier person, I believe. I don't stress as hard and it's all because of my positive thinking.
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