Beliefs as Self-Fulfilling PropheciesRoger BannisterRoger BannisterOutlineOutline Beliefs shape reality How it works Optimizing optimism Raising our beliefsWe are what we think.We are what we think.All that we are arises with our All that we are arises with our thoughts.thoughts.With our thoughts, we make With our thoughts, we make our world.our world.The BuddhaThe BuddhaPygmalionPygmalionPygmalionPygmalionPygmalionPygmalion in the in the classroom classroom (Robert Rosenthal)(Robert Rosenthal)In theIn the workplaceworkplaceJamieson (1987)Jamieson (1987)“Treat a man as a he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he shall become as he can and should be.” Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThe Power of the SituationThe Power of the SituationMilgrams Obedience to AuthorityZimbardos Prison ExperimentThe (Positive) Power of the SituationThe (Positive) Power of the Situationmen above 75 week in “1959” resort mental and biological age decreases Langer (1989) testing eyesight Improves with role Langer (1979)Positive PrimingPositive Priming Bargh (1999) Dijksterhuis & Van Knippenberg (1998) Creating a positive environment pictures (people, places, etc) pleasant objects (memorabilia, flowers, etc) quotes books, films, music positive researchThe Self-Help MovementThe Self-Help Movement“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve”Napoleon Hill“Whether you think you can or cantyou are right” Henry FordThe Self-Help MovementThe Self-Help Movement“Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.” Norman Vincent PealeAlbert Albert BanduraBandura on Self Efficacy on Self Efficacy“Beliefs in personal efficacy affect life choices, level of motivation, quality of functioning, resilience to adversity and vulnerability to stress and depression.”“People who regard themselves as highly efficacious act, think, and feel differently from those who perceive themselves as inefficacious. They produce their own future, rather than simply foretell it.” Cultivated over time Curry (1997) on college athletesNathaniel Branden on Self-EsteemNathaniel Branden on Self-Esteem“The level of our self-esteem has profound consequences for every aspect of our existence: how we operate in the workplace, how we deal with people, how high we are likely to rise, how much we are likely to achieveand, in the personal realm, with whom we are likely to fall in love, how we interact with our spouse, children, and friends, what level of personal happiness we attain.”“Self concept is destiny.”The Placebo EffectThe Placebo EffectBeliefs as Self-fulfilling Prophecies Beliefs as Self-fulfilling Prophecies Beliefs ExpectationsPerformanceMotivation ConsistencyInterpretationObjectiveSubjective“I failed my way to success”Thomas EdisonOptimism and Pessimism (Seligman)Optimism and Pessimism (Seligman) Interpretation style Permanent/temporary Pervasive/specific Success Mental/physical health immune system resilience happiness longevity It can be learned!Optimizing OptimismOptimizing Optimism What about unrealistic beliefs?Optimizing OptimismOptimizing Optimism What about unrealistic beliefs? The Stockdale Paradox Positive thinking is not enough“False optimism sooner or later means disillusionment, anger and hopelessness.” Abraham MaslowThe “Secret” of SuccessThe “Secret” of Success Optimism, passion, hard work.“There is no substitute for hard work.”Thomas Edison“I am a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the luckier I get.” Thomas JeffersonWhat About Happiness and Self-Esteem?What About Happiness and Self-Esteem? Do high expectations lead to disappointment?Self-esteem=success/pretensions William James Coping versus Avoidance Self perception theory (Bem, 1967) realizing the pain of actual failure more successOn Becoming An OptimistOn Becoming An Optimist Just do it! (action) Imagine that (visualization) Cognitive therapy (rational thinking)Taking Action (Bandura)Hard Work CopingSuccessSelf-EfficacyTo dare is to lose ones footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.Soren KierkegaardImagining SuccessImagining Success The mind as simulator (Kosslyn, 1994) Focus on journey and destination (Taylor, 2005) Involve different senses Evoke emotionsCognitive TherapyCognitive Therapy Thoughts drive emotion Restoring rationality/realism Highly effective An acquired skillAvoiding the 3 MsAvoiding the 3 Ms1. Magnifying (exaggerating) a. Permanent and Pervasive (over-generalizing) b. All-or-nothing thinking 2. Minimizing (underplaying) a. Tunnel vision b. Dismissal of positive or negative 3. Making up (fabricating) a. Personalization or blame b. Emotional reasoningGet Real!Get Real!Is my conclusion tied to reality? Is my conclusion rational? Am I ignoring something important? What important evidence do