Which term refers to a belief that leads to its own fulfillment?

• A. Motivation
• B. Drive-Reduction Theory
• C. Superordinate Goals
• D. Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Answer: (D)

Beliefs or expectations about a person or situation can shape how we act in ways that bring about the outcome we anticipated. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy: the belief influences our behavior and interpretations, nudging events toward the expected result. For example, if a teacher expects a student to excel, they may offer more encouragement and opportunities, the student responds with greater effort, and the student ends up performing well, making the original belief come true. Conversely, expecting poor performance can lead to limited support and harsher judgments, which can produce a weaker outcome and reinforce the expectation. Other terms don’t capture this pattern: motivation is the internal push to act, drive-reduction theory centers on physiological needs creating drives, and superordinate goals are broad aims that require cooperation to achieve.