Examples of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in Sociology

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a sociological term used to describe what happens when a false belief influences peoples behavior in such a way that it ultimately shapes reality. This concept has appeared in many cultures for centuries, but American sociologist Robert K. Merton coined the term and developed it for use in sociology. Today, the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy is commonly used by sociologists as an analytic lens through which to study student performance, deviant or criminal behavior, and the impact of racial stereotypes on targeted groups. Robert K. Mertons Self-Fulfilling Prophecy In 1948, Merton used the term self-fulfilling prophecy in an article. He framed his discussion of this concept with symbolic interaction theory, which states that, through interaction, people bring about a shared definition of the situation in which they find themselves. He argued  that self-fulfilling prophecies begin as false definitions of situations, but that behavior based on the ideas attached to this false understanding recreates the situation in such a way that the original false definition becomes true. Mertons description of the self-fulfilling prophecy is rooted in the Thomas theorem, formulated by sociologists W. I. Thomas and D. S. Thomas. This theorem states that if people define situations as real, they are then real in their consequences. Both Mertons definition of self-fulfilling prophecy and the Thomas theorem reflect the fact that beliefs act as social forces. They have, even when false, the power to shape our behavior in very real ways. Symbolic interaction theory explains this by highlighting that people act in situations largely based on how they read those situations, and what they believe the situations mean to them or to the others participating in them. What we believe to be true about a situation then shapes our behavior and how we interact with the others present. In The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology, sociologist Michael Briggs provides an easy three-step way to understand how self-fulfilling prophecies become true. X believes that y is p.X, therefore, does p.Because of 2, y becomes p. Examples of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies in Sociology A number of sociologists have documented the effects of self-fulfilling prophecies in education. This occurs primarily as a result of teacher expectation. The two classic examples are of high and low expectations. When a teacher has high expectations for a student and communicates those expectations to the student through his behavior and words, the student then typically does better in school than they would otherwise. Conversely, when a teacher has low expectations for a student and communicates this to the student, the student will perform more poorly in school than she otherwise would. Taking Mertons view, one can see that, in either case, the teachers expectations for the students are creating a certain definition of the situation that rings true for both the student and the teacher. That definition of the situation then impacts the students behavior, making the teachers expectations real in the behavior of the student. In some cases, a self-fulfilling prophecy is positive, but, in many, the effect is negative. Sociologists have documented that race, gender, and class biases frequently influence the level of expectations that teachers have for students. Teachers  often expect black and Latino students to perform worse than white and Asian students. They may also expect girls to perform worse than boys in certain subjects like science and math, and low-income students to perform worse than middle- and upper-income students. In this way, race, class, and gender biases, which are rooted in stereotypes, can act as self-fulfilling prophecies and actually create poor performance among the groups targeted with low expectations. This ultimately results in these groups performing poorly in school. Similarly, sociologists have documented how labeling kids delinquents or criminals leads to delinquent and criminal behavior. This particular self-fulfilling prophecy has become so common across the U.S. that sociologists have given it a name: the school-to-prison pipeline. It is a phenomenon that is also rooted in racial stereotypes, primarily ones of black and Latino boys, but documentation suggests that it affects black girls as well. Examples of self-fulfilling prophecies show how powerful our beliefs are. Good or bad, these expectations can alter what societies look like. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Langston Hughes - A Literary Genius Essay - 2076 Words

Langston Hughes (1902-1967), one of the most prominent figures in the world of Harlem, has come to be an African American poet as well as a legend of a variety of fields such as music, childrens literature and journalism. Through his poetry, plays, short stories, novels, autobiographies, childrens books, newspaper columns, Negro histories, edited anthologies, and other works, Hughes is considered a voice of the African-American people and a prime example of the magnificence of the Harlem Renaissance who promoted equality, condemned racism and injustice that the Negro society endured, and left behind a precious literary and enduring legacy for the future generations. In an endeavor to explore why and to what extent his poetry has still†¦show more content†¦society. Besides, delivering his poetry from his heart, Hughes made many black readers feel as though everyday practices of their lives was portrayed in his writing, as writer Ishmael Reed once said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“We shou ld honor Langston Hughes for his ability to say what was in souls of millionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? . In a 1996 essay on Langston Hughes Collected Poems in the New Republic, Helen Vendler, one of Americas top poetry critics, echoed Rampersadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s point when she said that most of his poems are accessible to anyone who can read, and even the more allusive ones generally mention events that were, at the time, in the daily newspapers . In addition, when mentioning of Hughesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ masterpiece à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ The Negro Speak of Riversà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, Kevin Powell, writer, founding staff member and former senior writer for Vibe magazine who helped introduce the hip-hop generation to Hughes work, noted, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Any group can relate to that piece. If youre an immigrant coming from Ireland or Italy, or a Jew who has escaped Nazi Germany, or if youre a woman, you can relate to that piece _ or if youre gay or lesbian, or obviously if youre African-American. However, behind their apparent simplicity, the glory of Langston Hughes poems was to use many symbols to illustrate his main themes and still maintain the elements of profundity, humor and irony in the meanings such as those in à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ku Kluxà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Negro Speak of Riversà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“What Happened to a Dream Deferred ?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I, too, SingShow MoreRelatedJames Mecer Langston Hughes: Literary Genius1763 Words   |  8 PagesLiterary Genius James Mercer Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. James Hughes and Carrie Langston are Hughes’ parents. They later divorced when Hughes was young. After his parents divorced he went to live with his grandmother until he turned thirteen years old. At thirteen years old he moved to Lincoln, Illinois. After living in Illinois he later moved to Cleveland, Ohio to live with his mother. When he moved to Cleveland he started writing poetry (â€Å"James Mercer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  parRead MoreLangston Hughes Essay1084 Words   |  5 PagesLangston Hughes was a large influence on the African-American population of America. Some of the ways he did this was how his poetry influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and the Harlem Renaissance. These caused the civil rights movement that resulted in African-Americans getting the rights that they deserved in the United States. Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was young and his grandmother raised him. She got him into literature and education; she was one ofRead MoreAnalysis of Langston Hughes ´ The Negro Speaks of Rivers927 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes A Poetic of the Harlem Renaissance During the Harlem Renaissance copious African Americans writers arose from this movement including Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and especially Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes has endured hardships from the time his parents separated to being raised in different cities. Hughes has tried multiple times to reconnect with his father, but it never succeeded. Although Langston Hughes has a complicated relationship with his fatherRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead MoreThe Innate Genius Behind By Langston Hughes944 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes was a pioneer of African-American literature and while he wrote an abundance of short stories, essays and plays, he is most well-known for his poetry. The innate genius behind these poems was that he wrote about the everyday lives of American men and women using simple and easily relatable language to invoke a sense of grand importance that most people could understand. His poetry presents a commentary in which both races can begin to better understand one another and also critiquesRead MoreLangston Hughes And His Harlem Dream1902 Words   |  8 PagesLangston Hughes and His Harlem Dream An explosion of written and artistic creativity, a time of social awareness and enlightenment among the black race. The Harlem Renaissance, originally known as ‘The New Negro Movement’, began after the first world war and lasted until the middle of the 1930’s depression. Harlem became a destination for African Americans throughout the early 1900’s as part of the great migration. As more blacks made Harlem their home, it increasingly became well known as an AfricanRead More Reviews of Notes of a Native Son Essay1238 Words   |  5 Pagescame to the conclusion that Baldwin’s use of words was extremely eloquent and intelligent. Specifically an article titled â€Å"Rage unto Order† by Dachine Rainer was very adamant about Baldwin’s genius as a writer but hardly did anything to explain or exemplify that fact. Another review written by Langston Hughes reflects upon how Baldwin clings to the issue of racial discrimination on Negroes and that if he let go of that fact it would prove him to be a greater writer. In the third article the authorRead MoreClaude Mckay s Harlem Dancer And Ended Around 1929 Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesThe Harlem Renaissance began in 1918 with the publication of Claude McKay’s â€Å"Harlem Dancer† and ended around 1929. During this period, there was a wave of literary works by, and about, Blacks. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great intellectual expression as well as introspection (Bodenner). There were several key moments and individuals that made this era of time historical. African American artists rejected imitating the ideals of white Americans and championed black artistic expression onRead More Writers of the Harlem Renaissance Essay2535 Words   |  11 PagesHarlem, a part of Manhattan in New York City, became a hugely successful showcase for African American talent. Starting with black literature, the Harlem Renaissance quickly grew to incredible proportions. W.E.B. Du Bois, Claude McKay, and Langston Hughes, along with many other writers, experienced incredible popularity, respect, and success. Art, music, and photography from blacks also flourished, resulting in many masterpieces in all mediums. New ideas began to take wings among circles of blackRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance : An Important Piece Of History For America1473 Words   |  6 Pagesmost of it while it lasts. About twice a year I sell a story. It is acclaimed. I am a genius in the making. Thank God for this Negro literary renaissance. Long may it flourish!† Thurman made this statement to show how thankful he was for the Harlem Renaissance movement and for his opportunity to be a writer. Another great man of the Harlem Renaissance was a African American male by the name of Langston Hughes. Hughes was and is still a very famous author and poet. He is extremely popular due to the

Death summary case 3 Putul Barua free essay sample

HOSPITAL COURSE: The patient’s hospital course was characterized by progressively downhill course. He was initially hospitalized and found to be mildly hypoxic, which rapidly corrected subluminal low-flow oxygen therapy however, he gradually became more oxygen dependent on high-flow oxygen, eventually requiring intubation with mechanical ventilation in order to maintain his oxygenation. He underwent an open lung biopsy an attempt to delineate the etiology of his pulmonary situation, and this was reported as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and abilities. The specimen was sent to the Forest General Pathology Department for further evaluation, and they were able to give no further help concerning the ideology pf his pulmonary status. An echocardiogram showed left ventricular walls motion hypokinesia an ejection fraction of approximately 35%. Dr. J. K. McClain and other members of the cardiology department consulted on the patient. They felt that his hypokinesia and breathlessness were not secondary to his cardiac status. He had supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. We will write a custom essay sample on Death summary case 3 Putul Barua or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The cardiology staff utilized intravenous medications that controlled the cardiac rate, adequately resolving these cardiac issues. I managed the patient’s venerator in the intensive care status along with my respiratory therapy team. Unfortunately the patient developed multiple infections, hospital acquired, included Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and probable fungemia. Multiple evaluations of the dispute lungs of the present’s active pulmonary tuberculosis were negative. The patient developed acute renal failure, managed by DR. Trever Jordan and his team of nephrologist by hemodialysis. Mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, nasoduodenal feeding tube were completed in an attempt to provide further support however, the patient continued to deteriorate. On January 15 at 0017 hours he became asystolic. Code Blue was called. The patient underwent advance cardiac life-support with multiple medications. He felt a response to the advance cardiac life-support and was pronounced dead at 0041 hours on January 15th. Permission for autopsy was denied. FINAL DIAGNOSES 1. Idiopathic fibrosis with alveolitis. 2. History of tuberculosis. 3. Acute renal failure. 4. Hospital acquired septicemia and a fungemia multiple organisms. ___________________ Simon Williams, MD Of pulmonology SW: XX D: 02/23/2014 T: 02/23/2014