Question

How does "Self-fulfilling Prophesy" begin and work its way among the elderly?

a. A "prophesy" is a projection or foretelling based on past performance: As the person is motivated by their own belief and record of past success, those who are skillful will work towards reaching their max potential. Those who are unskillful are at the mercy of others who give them their prophesy.

b. Fulfillment of a prophecy begins with the parents: whatever stated goals and dreams they have for their children -- are in reality part of the plan to relive dreams in their own youth. The prophecy becomes the goal and motivating factor: it is accepted and imbibed by the child, despite the parents unstated desire to live vicariously through the kid.

c. The prophesy begins with one's self: it is self-declared, and they prophecy to their own future. This becomes their mantra for self-improvement.

d. Someone outside of the persons' social circle typically provides the label and "prophecy". When an elderly hears of this, they are self-aware and get motivated to work for or against the prophesy. This becomes their motivation to fulfill and better the "self".

e. A "social" judgment or perception of appropriateness can dictate expectations. Often this leads to suppression of activity or initiative to live his/her own life. Once an elderly believes they are incapable to do something or anything, they then live up (or down) to those expectations. With no control or capability to effect change or take charge of their lives, why bother?

Answer 1

Ageism becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy, a prediction that comes true because people believe it. If older people themselves think that their age makes them feeble, they stop taking care of themselves and avoid social interaction, and that itself make them age faster.

Studies have also shown that when older people hear these stereotypes about their supposed incompetence and usefulness, they perform worse on measures of competence and memory. Those stereotypes then become self-fulfilling prophecies. Then this behavior reinforces the present stereotypes and treatment of the elderly.

It process through which an originally false expectation leads to it's it' confirmation. In a self-fulfilling prophecy and individual expectations about another person or entity eventually result in the other person or entity acting in ways that confirm the expectations.