Madon, S., Smith, A., Jussim, L., Russell, D., Eccles, J., & Palumbo, P, & Walkiewicz, M. (in press). Am I as you see me or do you see me as I am?: Self-fulfilling prophecy, self-verification and agreement. (in press). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

This research investigated the extent to which self-fulfilling prophecies and self-verification occurred among 108 teachers and 1692 students in 108 sixth-grade public school math classrooms. Results demonstrated three main findings. Self-fulfilling prophecies and self-verification occurred simultaneously in a context where perceivers and targets had highly valid information on which to base their initial perceptions. The availability of highly valid information led perceivers and targets to develop initially similar perceptions before mutual influence took place. High similarity between perceivers' and targets' initial perceptions had no effect on the power of self-verification, but weakened the effect of self-fulfilling prophecies for some targets. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for extended and close relationships and how the nature of people's perceptions may influence the power of self-fulfilling prophecies and self-verification.