Bias Binge #7 - I'm living up to her expectations

The Pygmalion effect describes situations where someone’s high expectations improves our behavior and therefore our performance in a given area. It suggests that we do better when more is expected of us.

The bias is named after the famous play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw that tells the story of a poor, young flower girl and her transformation that allows people to believe her to be a duchess. All through the guidance and under the watchful eye of Professor Higgins.

Now we have seen a number of movies and some pretty great ones at that, where a new coach comes in and makes a winner out of a losing team, that no-one hitherto believed in. The most recent in this genre that I saw was Ted Lasso on Apple TV. 

But the one closest to my heart had to be The Blind Side. This true story shows off the Pygmalion Effect more lucidly than any explanation I could conjure up. 

In case you've missed this master piece here is a quick synopsis. Michael Oher (Played by Quinton Aaron), a homeless black teen, drifts in and out of the school system for years. Then Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock in her Oscar winning role) and her husband, Sean (Tim McGraw), take him in. The Tuohys eventually become Michael's legal guardians, transforming both his life and theirs. Michael's tremendous size and protective instincts make him a formidable force on the gridiron, and with help from his new family and devoted tutor, he realizes his potential as a student and football player.

In the clip below you can see through an absolutely phenomenal delivery how Sandra Bullock brings alive the amazing character and personality of Leigh Anne Tuohy. Aaron's reaction shows us exactly what impact the expectations of someone who we care about, can do to our behaviour and performance.

Movies aside, the Pygmalion effect may be seen in daily life through the expectation of parents, teachers, bosses or friends. And though one usually reads about the perils of high expectations, this bias shows us how it could well be the force behind high achievements.

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