What concept explains how expectations affect outcomes?

The concept that explains how expectations affect outcomes is the self-fulfilling prophecy. This psychological phenomenon occurs when a person’s expectations or beliefs about a situation or another individual lead to behaviors that ultimately cause those expectations to come true. For instance, if a teacher believes a student is capable of performing well, they may give that student more attention, encouragement, and resources. As a result, the student may improve and meet those initial expectations.

In contrast, options like the placebo effect relate specifically to health and treatment, where a person experiences a real change in condition due to the belief that they are receiving treatment, rather than directly tied to personal expectations affecting performance or behavior. Confirmation bias involves favoring information that confirms existing beliefs and ignoring information that contradicts them, which does not inherently affect the outcomes in the way a self-fulfilling prophecy does. Lastly, motivation theory focuses on the various factors that stimulate an individual’s desire and energy to be continually interested and committed to a task, rather than directly linking expectations to the outcomes.