RBV: Ephesians 4:13

CGG Weekly published this essay as “Expecting More” on November 7, 2003.

“. . . till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .”
—Ephesians 4:13

An interesting email from a member arrived in my inbox this morning. It was a review of findings by Dr. Robert Rosenthal, professor of psychology at Harvard University for 37 years and now at the University of California, Riverside, on the role that teachers’, coaches’, mentors’, and managers’ expectations play in the achievements of those under their supervision. “The Rosenthal Effect,” as it is widely known, states that the expectations of a mentor influence the performance of those he teaches, although how he conveys his expectations is oftentimes difficult to substantiate.

This can be seen most clearly in the classroom. In a study undertaken in the 1960s, Rosenthal gave inner-city elementary school teachers a list of students who were predicted to blossom academically based on test results. In fact, no test had been given; the names on the list had been randomly selected. At the year’s end, those on the list had progressed substantially over those not on the list. The only variable was the teachers’ expectations of those children to do better.

This Rosenthal Effect works on non-humans too. Twelve researchers were given five rats apiece. Half of the researchers were told their rats were bred for their intelligence, and the other half were told that their rats were especially stupid. Their task was to train them to run a maze in five days. As the Effect predicted, the “smart” rats learned the maze more quickly—and even progressively increased their times—than the “idiot” rats. After the experiment was over, the administrators revealed that all the rats belonged to the same genetic strain. The only difference was the researchers’ expectations for their particular group of rats.

It should not be hard to spot this principle working in American education. The powers that be have steadily “dumbed down” curriculums and standard achievement tests. Since they have expected less of the students, the students have generally delivered just enough to meet the lowered expectations. An email titled “8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS (1895),” which occasionally circulates on the Internet, points this difference out in stark terms. Most of today’s college graduates cannot even muster a “D” on it!

The same is true in publishing. Over the years, the targeted grade-level of books and articles has plummeted from college to about sixth-grade level. Since editors do not expect their newspaper or magazine readers to understand longer, less common words, they edit them out and simplify the language to the point that American journalism is appallingly shallow and simplistic. In most writing found in popular periodicals today, nothing even remotely mentally challenges or stimulates.

We can see this principle at work in American families as well. Parents rarely expect their children to behave, practice good etiquette, and perform the social courtesies, and their children live down to their low expectations. Parents who set high standards and lovingly enforce them produce children who constantly amaze strangers in public places. It is no fluke that such children also tend to achieve in school, on the sports field, at work, and overall in life.

As Christians, we need to take this Rosenthal Effect to heart in our relationships with our spouses, children, extended family members, friends, coworkers, and business contacts. Are we positive about people and expect them to succeed, or conversely, are we negative and expect them to fail? Do we extend the benefit of the doubt, looking for the best in people, or are we distrustful, treating others as if everyone is out to get us? Do we uplift others by whatever means to succeed, or are we the kind who hammers down every nail that sticks up?

God’s example is the one to follow. He has given us the noblest, most righteous, and most difficult standards to live up to: His Ten Commandments and the perfect life of His Son, Jesus Christ. And what does He say? “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). He was so confident of His disciples’ obedience and loyalty that He promised them they would sit on twelve thrones in His Kingdom (Matthew 19:28). He is equally confident that we will enter His Kingdom.

God has high expectations for us, and He works with us, encouraging us and guiding us to fulfill them. We can take this Effect as assurance that, if we persevere with Him, we will reign with Him in His Kingdom, and we can use it to make our lives and others’ better now.