In an experiment, Curtis and Miller (1986) assigned participants at random to have a conversation.One member of each pair was told that the other person liked him or her.Participants provided this information actually behaved in more likable ways, and their partners, too, behaved in pleasant ways.Based on the information presented in the text, which of the following could explain their behavior and reciprocal liking?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The self-fulfilling prophecy could explain the participants' behavior and reciprocal liking. The belief that someone likes us can lead us to behave in a more likable way, which in turn may elicit positive behavior from the other person, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of their liking for each other.

In an Experiment, Curtis and Miller (1986) Assigned Participants at Random