The Thomas theorem states that if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. This means that our perceptions of reality can shape our behavior and the outcomes of situations, even if those perceptions are not objectively true. For example, if someone believes that they are not capable of succeeding in a particular task, their belief may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading them to perform poorly and fail.
The self-fulfilling prophecy is a phenomenon in which a belief or expectation about a person or situation leads to actions that cause the belief or expectation to come true. For example, if a teacher believes that a student is not capable of succeeding in a particular subject, they may give the student less attention and support, leading the student to perform poorly and confirm the teacher's belief.
One time when I experienced a self-fulfilling prophecy was when I was in high school and I had a reputation for being bad at math. I had struggled with math in the past, and my teacher and classmates believed that I was not capable of succeeding in the subject. As a result, I received less attention and support from my teacher, and I began to believe that I was not capable of succeeding in math. This belief led me to become disengaged from the subject and to perform poorly on assignments and tests. Eventually, I failed the class.
Looking back on the situation, I realize that my sense of reality was shaped by the self-fulfilling prophecy. I believed that I was not capable of succeeding in math because of the negative beliefs and expectations of others. However, it is possible that others could have perceived the situation as a different reality. If my teacher and classmates had believed in my potential and provided me with more support and encouragement, I may have been able to overcome my struggles in math and succeed in the subject.