A self-fulfilling prophecy is when a person unknowingly causes a prediction to come true, due to the simple fact that he or she expects it to come true.
For example, when investors believe that a share price will drop, they start selling off their shares which will lead to excess supply and ultimately causing the share price to drop. Whether the price would have dropped we do not know, but due to investors belief and actions, the share price dropped.
Another example, is when we believe that the price of a commodity will rise and then we begin to buy and hoard. Due to excess demand caused by panic, the price of that commodity will rise. Also, an employer who expects the employees to be disloyal, will likely treat them in a way that will elicit the very response he or she expects
When we read blogs comments/advice, listen to sermons on relationships, receive advice from people, listen to people experiences etc., we most times form opinions about relationships and marriage… I like to call these opinions baggage because most times it is negative and even when it is positive it does not consider the peculiarity of your spouse…it is based on the adviser’s experiences.
Examples of some notions many people enter into a marriage with are: women are gold diggers, hide your money from your wife. Men are cheats, so don’t kill yourself because of a man. Your husband might marry another woman in the future so create a back-up fund etc.
Your wife might not be a gold digger, but because of your beliefs you begin to hide your resources, she finds out some, thinks you are selfish and begins to lie to get money from you…your prophecy has been fulfilled due to your actions.
Your husband might be a man with strong morals, but because of your beliefs that men are cheats you don’t bother to go the extra mile for him and he feels neglected and find comfort with another woman…your prophecy has been fulfilled due to your actions.
I believe that many marital problems are due to self-fulfilling prophecies and that people should enter relationships/marriages with a pure/neutral mind because carrying baggage into a marriage will make you act in a way that will cause those “prophecies” to be fulfilled.
I want us to discuss this issue. What are some of the self-fulfilling prophecies people enter marriages with, at what point should we learn from people’s lips or from our own slips when it comes to marital issues.
