Discussion:
Applied Social Psychology - Can expectation effects be exploited for good purposes?
Most times when social psychologists talk about expectation effects and self-fulfilling
prophecies (e.g., Rosenthal, 2003), they emphasize the dangers that are implicit in these phenomena. And surely there are bad things that can happen as a result of the communication biases that expectations produce. But what about the flip side? Are there ways in which expectation effects (and communication biases that they produce) might be harnessed for the greater good? Might expectations be created strategically and built into interventions in order to create positive societal outcomes? Any ideas?
I am looking for more of personal notes instead of outside sources. Although it needs to be empirically based.
It would be great if you respond to this question by stating your opinions and ideas on this topic, relating them to the empirical findings of research/ literature done in the field.