Pygmalion effect - Breaking cycles

This morning while enjoying my coffee and morning cigar I saw a reel about the Pygmalion effect. I had no real idea what it was as I had not heard of it before I did a bit of research.

The Pygmalion effect refers to a psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance in others. First described by Rosenthal and Jacobson in 1968, it gets its name from the Greek myth of Pygmalion, where a sculptor’s great expectations for his statue result in it coming to life. Essentially, when teachers or leaders expect more of others, those individuals perform better.

As I was looking at this, I saw a diagram showing the cycle. Everything is a cycle, right? Think it, Feel it, Speak it, Become it?  Right? According to the idea of the Pygmalion effect that is only a part of the whole.  It goes deeper.

According to the idea by Robert Rosenthal not only our personal ideals about ourselves influence change, but the ideas of those around us, of us.  To explain the diagram a bit it goes like this.  I will add it to the comments

Our Action towards others, Impacts, Others’ Beliefs about us, which will cause, Other Actions towards us, which reinforces, Our belief about ourselves, which goes back to influence our actions towards others.

Now as I was reading about this the writer geared it towards leadership and engaging the “leader/follower” model.  What he was saying was that poor or low expectations often lead to low or poor performance.

But if this is true, then the opposite must also be true. If we raise the expectations of those around us we are likely to yield better results. 

We all have specific “skill sets” and I understand that. Some are better suited to preform some tasks than others.  For example, I would make a VERY bad secretary or treasurer. I know this about myself. Well, currently I do.  But if we look at the above thought. My saying I cannot do it will lead others to believe and treat me as if I cant.  Even if I would be the best suited for those duties.  It takes time, effort and investment.

By the way, Not right now does not mean “never”.  It just means you have some work you need to do. Maybe that work is mental, emotional, or spiritual, and don’t we all? I mean you are not going to take a brand-new Master Mason and make him Mater of the Lodge. In my jurisdiction you cant. You have to have served as a Warden first.  I know sometimes it happens but even that can be a bit of a rush. Setting the new Master Mason up for feelings of failure, and that’s not right, for him or the Lodge.

So you have a Brother that is down and his actions are showing it, those actions are starting to be re-enforced by others. What do you do? Part of the Pygmalion effect, the way I read it, is to break the cycle of negative thoughts and behavior and replace them with positive ones.

Part of this falls on the person having the negative thoughts and actions. Get away from the people putting you down and telling you that you are not worthy.  Shun people that are only there to use you and nothing more.  They are a cancer and a vex to your personal growth. I cannot make this any clearer without violating Facebook standards.  Get around people that honestly want the best for you. That invests time, effort, and energy into you. No, they will not always tell you what you want to hear. But what you need to hear.

Now for our “well informed Brothers”.  Spend some time with that Brother that is struggling. Maybe it is in his home life, or Lodge. Maybe he is trying to learn a new part and just isn’t there yet.  Be careful how you correct him in public. In fact, praise him in public for making the attempt, many don’t. If correction is needed, do it private and in a way that will better server his desire to want to learn.

Masters of our Lodges have standards in place. Create steps to achievement that are obtainable and celebrate when a Brother (or the Lodge) completes a goal.

I had a ton of thoughts on this one. But they are important. 700+ words to say a very simple concept. When we Guard the West Gate it is not just physical. It is mental too.  The Tyler is there to keep off those unwanted, undeserving, and really unprepared. We must guard our thoughts and mind. Thoughts give birth to emotions and feelings, feelings become words, and words spoken, become action. Actions become our creations.  Create well my Brothers.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly.