📚 Learning Guide
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
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How might a teacher's expectations influence a student's academic performance in the context of self-fulfilling prophecies?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

High expectations often lead to increased student performance through more engagement and support.

B

Teachers should avoid forming any expectations to prevent bias and ensure equal treatment.

C

Students will always perform as expected regardless of the teacher's beliefs about their abilities.

D

Low expectations can motivate students to prove the teacher wrong and perform better.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

When a teacher believes a student will do well, they often give that student more encouragement, clearer explanations, and more opportunities to participate, which can boost the student’s confidence and effort. Conversely, if a teacher expects a student to struggle, they may provide less support or give less challenging tasks, which can lower the student’s motivation and performance. These differences in treatment create a feedback loop where the student’s actual performance starts to match the teacher’s expectation, a classic self‑fulfilling prophecy. For example, a teacher who thinks a shy student can improve may offer extra practice and praise, leading the student to try harder and eventually achieve better grades, confirming the teacher’s original belief. Thus, teacher expectations can shape students’ academic outcomes by influencing the learning environment and the students’ own beliefs about their abilities.

Detailed Explanation

When a teacher believes a student can succeed, they often give more attention and useful feedback. Other options are incorrect because Skipping expectations removes the chance to provide extra help that many students need; It is not true that students always meet what the teacher expects.

Key Concepts

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
Teacher Expectations
Academic Performance
Topic

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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