Self-defeating prophecy

A self-defeating prophecy is a prediction or expectation that, instead of coming true, contributes to its own failure or negation. This concept is often discussed in psychology and social sciences as it illustrates how beliefs and expectations can influence behaviors and outcomes. For instance, if a student believes they will fail an exam, they may not study adequately or approach their preparation with confidence, which increases the likelihood of poor performance, ultimately fulfilling their original expectation of failure.