Which theory explains how teachers’ expectations shape pupil attainment through self-fulfilling prophecy?

• A. Self-fulfilling prophecy (Pygmalion effect)
• B. Social learning theory
• C. Labeling theory
• D. Conflict theory

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that what teachers expect of a pupil can shape that pupil’s performance, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the Pygmalion effect: higher expectations lead teachers to treat pupils in ways that encourage more effort, more feedback, and more challenging work, which helps pupils perform better. Pupils pick up on these cues, feel capable, and push themselves to succeed, while low expectations can do the opposite. The famous study by Rosenthal and Jacobson illustrates this in action, showing how teacher expectations can produce actual gains in achievement through changes in teacher behavior and pupil self-perception. So the theory described is the self-fulfilling prophecy, the Pygmalion effect.