How Does a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Impact Your Life?

You may not consciously think about self-fulfilling prophecies in your everyday life, but they are everywhere. Explore how a self-fulfilling prophecy may impact your way of living.

By Kelly Santana Banks
May 12, 2023 6:00 PM
Looking into Future
Self-fulfilling prophecy. (Credit: VectorMine/Shutterstock)

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If you are into Greek mythology, you probably have heard the story of Oedipus. This tale, which became one of the best examples of self-fulling prophecy, shows how Oedipus and his father, Laius, unconsciously (or maybe consciously?) manifested their fate. Like the Oedipus tale, we may have self-prophesied our destiny in several aspects of our lives, whether positive or negative.

For instance, have you ever foreseen something that eventually happened to you? You’re not alone. Self-fulfilling prophecies are so ingrained in our psychology and social environment that we often don’t even notice how they can affect our everyday encounters.

But what is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and how did it come about?

What Is a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

A self-fulfilling prophecy is when a person's belief generates a conscious or unconscious behavior that makes their thoughts come true.

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