Golem Effect: concept and characteristics

More than 20 centuries ago, Pythagoras already said: ‘Teach children and it will not be necessary to punish men.’ The unknown Golem effect bets just the opposite. Let’s get to know him a little better.

But to understand the Golem effect, also known as the negative Pygmalion effectit is interesting to remember what the Pygmalion effect consists of from a psychological point of view.

Golem Effect vs. Pygmalion Effect

We understand the Pygmalion effect when A person, because he thinks he can influence another, ends up having this influence. Therefore, it has a lot to do with expectations and is closely related to another effect, that of self-fulfilling prophecy (we observe reality as we expect it to be, facilitating, in turn, it to be as we observe it).

Obviously, This effect is essential in the education and development of children. Teachers, parents and guardians tend to encourage children to exploit their potential, because they have positive expectations, to do everything they propose and are capable of. As Pythagoras said, teach children to be more balanced and self-confident adults.

Unfortunately, it is the opposite effect that brings us here, since the Golem is the reverse of the Pygmalion. In this process, a third party, through negative expectations, conditions the child to lower his self-esteem and do not consider yourself capable of doing something.

Both the Golem and the Pygmalion feed back to the little one.. If a boy is encouraged and achieves his goal, he will feel capable of going much further. On the contrary, if he believes himself inferior and incapable, he will hardly set goals that help him grow.

Where does the Golem effect occur?

Interestingly, both the Golem effect and the Pygmalion effect They are constantly reproduced in the academic environment. Unfortunately, today it is also widespread in social and labor sectors.

In the educational aspect, it was Jacobson and Rosenthal who have studied it most insistently. They dedicated themselves to investigate self-fulfilling prophecy, and observed that many teachers carried out a certain unconscious classification of their students. Thus, and in a totally irrational way, they influenced their performance by providing the means so that, unconsciously, these were fulfilled.

An example would be found in that teacher who thinks that one student is less intelligent than another. Thus, it is most likely that the challenges he poses to the one he considers less intelligent will be simpler, In this way and without meaning to, it will cause him to end up with less knowledge.

Can this effect be stopped?

The truth is that it is difficult to stop this effect. Let’s continue with the teacher’s example: generates expectations about your students, automatically and with little informationand acts based on those expectations, ultimately making these are fulfilled.

According to data, kids who receive richer stimulation end up achieving better academic performance. Thus, the phenomenon feeds itself, achieving a Golem effect in some children and a Pygmalion effect in others.

Logically, a first step to alleviate this phenomenon is become aware of it. Especially teachers, but also parents, guardians or family members should be aware of how perverse this effect can be.

Furthermore, this effect It has consequences beyond the academic field. Let’s think that, for example, the child’s performance may end up affecting her self-esteem.

On the other hand, and leaving the educational field, We can also observe this effect and its opposite in the workplace.. It is common for bosses to have expectations about their employees, to act based on these expectations, and because of their actions, their expectations end up having some reality.

In fact, it may be the case that we ourselves have been unconscious victims of the Golem effect. Being something so irrational, almost implanted in our consciousness, we barely realize the damage it causes.

In this sense, it is important to try techniques that allow us, as teachers, parents, bosses or tutors, be more aware and less prejudiced. Options such as mindfulness or meditation, which seek to obtain fuller awareness, could be useful in this regard.

You might be interested…