Pygmalion Effect


The pygmalion effect tells managers how to get average or low performers to achieve better. The history of the pygmalion effect is provided, alongside its advantages and drawbacks, and illustration of how it can be implemented and measured.

Technique Overview

Pygmalion Effect

Pygmalion Effect Definition

The pygmalion effect states that "one's expectations about a person can eventually lead that person to behave and achieve in ways that confirm those expectations" (Tauber, 1998).

Pygmalion Effect Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Pygmalion Effect *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Pygmalion Effect *

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Professional Tools

Pygmalion Effect videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Pygmalion Effect web and print resources *

Pygmalion Effect references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Benabou, R. and J.Tirole (2003) Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation, Review of Economic Studies, Vol.70, pp.489-520.
  • Daido, K and Itoh, H. (2005) The Pygmalion Effect: An Agency Model with Reference Dependent Preferences. CESifo Working Paper Series No. 1444.
  • Kaplan, R. and Norton, D.P. (2008) Mastering the Management System. Harvard Business Review, Vol. 86(1), pp. 62–77.
  • Kets de Vries and Manfred F.R. (2001) The Leadership Mystique, London: London Financial Times Prentice-Hall.

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