Why Do Good People Do Bad Things

Pygmalion Effect: Good People Doing Bad Things “Mother of two kills man who earlier hurt children.” Reports like these are seen every day. These headlines often leave people thinking, “Why do good people sometimes do bad things?” This question has everyone from scientists to citizens wondering. The Pygmalion and Golem effects help answer this. These self-fulfilling prophecies tell why people do certain things to meet the standards of others. When faced with pressure, their reputation on the line, and competition with others, the Pygmalion and Golem effect explains why good people sometimes do bad things. The Pygmalion effect is the idea where if you think something will happen, you may unconsciously make it happen through actions or inactions. So, the way people are seen and treated influences the way they act. When people are given positive labels, they will work hard to reach them, and will succeed in doing so. An example of this is with an employee. When a worker is seen as responsible by a superior, they will take on more responsibilities, and become more trustworthy and responsible. But, the opposite is true too. The Golem effect says lower expectations placed upon individuals will result in poorer performance. When a person is called a “criminal,” they are treated as such and will likely engage in criminal behavior again. These are the psychological actions that explain why good people do bad things. Pressure always calls for questioning and hesitance toward actions. When given only once choice, to succeed, crumbling under that pressure is often. The Pygmalion effect says that high expectations lead to high outcomes, but this is without the pressure of due dates and grades. Having to succeed added with the realistic requirements is difficult. But, we also have to succeed by fitting in and meeting standards of society. In “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,” citizens are faced with the pressure of being like each other in the society. They must follow