In cognitive psychology, how are self-fulfilling prophecies and schemas related?

• A. Schemas shape our expectations about others, which can lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to come true, resulting in self-fulfilling prophecies.
• B. Schemas and self-fulfilling prophecies are unrelated because schemas only affect memory, not behavior.
• C. Self-fulfilling prophecies are a type of schema that only influence perception, not social interaction.
• D. Self-fulfilling prophecies create schemas by forcing individuals to adopt new mental frameworks after an outcome occurs.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of schemas in cognitive psychology. Schemas are mental frameworks or structures that help individuals organize and interpret information based on prior knowledge and experiences.
2. Step 2: Recognize that schemas influence our expectations about people and situations. These expectations guide how we perceive and interact with others.
3. Step 3: Define self-fulfilling prophecies as situations where our expectations about others lead us to behave in ways that cause those expectations to come true.
4. Step 4: Connect schemas and self-fulfilling prophecies by explaining that schemas shape our expectations, which then influence our behavior toward others, potentially causing the expected outcome to occur.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the relationship between schemas and self-fulfilling prophecies lies in how schemas guide expectations and behaviors that bring about the anticipated results, demonstrating their interconnection.