Part 1 - Negative and Positive Expectancy and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

In these two next blogs, we will be dealing with Positive Expectancy and Negative Expectancy; and how they affect Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.

We’re going to look at the Lester Bingham Case from two different coaching perceptual and operational viewpoints. Let’s see how he was handled negatively first (what could have been done) and then how he was handled positively (what hopefully would have been done).

Negative Expectancy

Negative Expectancy, the negative use of the Self-fulfilling Prophecy is too often the default way coaches deal with kids they judge to be too pushy. For them an honest question for information is interpreted to be a challenge of their position.

The Jaguars at Play

The Jaguars’ Head Coach Harris is talking to his assistant coaches: “There is just something about that Lester Bingham kid that I don’t like. It has to do with his attitude when I tell him what to do. Do you have the same feelings about him?”

“Well, he does seem to act like he knows better than I do sometimes.” offered Assistant Coach Hanley. “Maybe, but I kind of like his confidence and he does have some potential as a player.” adds Assistant Coach Willis.

During the next few practice sessions, Coach Harris keeps finding things wrong with Lester’s attitude and notices how many mistakes he makes. “And he keeps asking me why he should do this or that - I told him to just do it.”

As it came about, the Jaguars needed to cut one more player from the team, so Lester had to go.

This is Negative Expectancy with its Self-fulfilling results - and help from a judgmental coach.

The Coaches really saw what they were looking for. This is called Selective Perception.

Lester asked, “Why do I have to learn this kind of bunt?

Coach Harris answered, “Because I told you to learn it.”