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This 5 page paper looks at the concept of self-fulfilling prophesy in education and argues that labeling children is detrimental. Theoretical material is included in addition to a real life example. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA228lbl.rtf
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it upon themselves to diagnose and help those with learning disabilities. However, special education programs are controversial and when labeling becomes involved--or designating someone as having a particular disability--critics say
that is detrimental. Why? Basically, the child integrates the label and the phenomenon of self-fulfilling prophesy could occur. While teachers discount the notion quite often, psychologists would likely differ.
A definition of the concept is as follows: "The categorization of persons or events prior to detailed involvement may lead to a particular form of bias, often
called the self-fulfilling prophecy or the Pygmalion effect. If we decide a particular state of affairs exists, we will often behave in a manner that brings about its objective
existence. In order to maintain a psychological equilibrium or minimize cognitive dissonance reality is bent to our will. Once we have decided a certain person is unlikable, we will
interpret their behaviour in negative ways and thus empirically verify their despicable character "(Matejko, 1993, p.1). This concept is taught in the field of education and is similar
to labeling theory in sociology. Labeling theory suggests that in society, one lives up to their labels. If someone is considered a criminal, they will behave like one. Similarly, in
education, if children are labeled as being disabled, they will live up to that disability. The sociological approach to education is illustrated best in classic books like Hargreaves
study of Lumley Secondary Modern School or Laceys study of Hightown Grammar and Balls work on Beachside Comprehensive (Furlong, 1991). All three take on a social interpretation of deviance,
and documents the development of student subcultures among educationally unsuccessful groups of children (1991). Other researchers have looked at the impact of "teachers labeling on pupils deviant careers " (Sharp
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