A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a belief or expectation about a situation or person leads to behaviors that cause the belief to come true. For example, if a teacher expects a student to excel, they may give that student more attention and encouragement, which can boost the student's performance. This concept highlights the power of expectations in shaping outcomes. When people believe something will happen, their actions often align with that belief, creating a cycle that reinforces the original expectation. This phenomenon can be seen in various contexts, including education, relationships, and workplace dynamics.