© British Association of Social Workers
Self-fulfilling Prophecies, Self-defeating Strategies and Change
Gerald Smale teaches at the National Institute for Social Work, London. His publications include Prophecy, Behaviour and Change published by Routledge and Kegan Paul in 1977
Summary
This paper sets out to describe and define ‘self-fulfilling prophecies’ and ‘self-defeating strategies’ and discuss their relevance to understanding families. The concepts are presented as a model for making sense of, and simplifying, the complex repeating sequences of behaviour seen in families. It is a model which has a behavioural and a cognitive component and this may form a bridge between theories which concentrate on the ‘here and now’ and those which emphasize the significance of history. Examples of the model are given with an analysis of the process of interaction. Certain features of self-defeating strategies are discussed, specifically how attempts to avoid a particular outcome can, in fact, precipitate it and how obsolete expectations can inhibit families from changing. Finally, some of the underlying assumptions of the model are examined.