LSAT (Law School Admission Test)Reading ComprehensionHard
Passage: "The 'Pygmalion effect,' also known as the self-fulfilling prophecy, describes a phenomenon where higher expectations placed upon individuals lead to an increase in their performance. In educational settings, for example, teachers who are led to believe certain students are 'gifted' (even if they are not) often provide more positive feedback, more challenging material, and more opportunities for interaction, leading those students to actually perform better. Conversely, the 'Golem effect' describes the opposite: lower expectations leading to decreased performance. While the Pygmalion effect highlights the power of positive reinforcement and belief, it also raises ethical concerns about the potential for unconscious biases to shape individual trajectories based on initial, and potentially inaccurate, assessments." The passage suggests that the Pygmalion effect is a type of self-fulfilling prophecy because:
- AThe initial expectation, rather than inherent ability, causes the predicted outcome.
- BIt is primarily observed in educational settings with 'gifted' students.
- CIt relies on explicit communication of high expectations to individuals.
- DIt involves a conscious effort by teachers to improve student performance.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The initial expectation, rather than inherent ability, causes the predicted outcome.
The passage explains that teachers treat students as 'gifted' 'even if they are not,' and this expectation 'leading those students to actually perform better.' This means the initial expectation, not actual inherent ability, causes the performance outcome, which is the essence of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While the example is from education, the passage introduces the Pygmalion effect as a general phenomenon, not limited to 'gifted' students or educational settings as its defining characteristic.
- C. The passage states teachers are 'led to believe,' implying the expectations are often unconscious or subtly conveyed, not necessarily explicit.
- D. The passage states teachers are 'led to believe,' suggesting the reinforcement might be unconscious or implicit, not necessarily a conscious 'effort' to manipulate outcomes.
Inference (Causal Link)
Inferring the 'why' behind a stated relationship or definition, requiring an understanding of the underlying causal mechanism.
- Connects a concept's definition to its observed manifestation.
- Goes beyond surface-level description to deeper implications.
- Often involves identifying the 'mechanism' by which something occurs.
Memory trick: The gears turn to create the effect.