A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a belief or expectation about a situation or person leads to behaviors that cause that belief to come true. For example, if a teacher thinks a student, like John, is not good at math, they might give less attention to him. As a result, John may struggle more, confirming the teacher's initial belief. This concept can apply in many areas, such as relationships or workplaces. If a manager believes that a team member, like Sarah, is unmotivated, they might not assign her important tasks. Consequently, Sarah may feel undervalued and become less engaged, reinforcing the manager's perception.