Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Internal Dialogue

Beliefs and expectations influence NVC

Our internal beliefs and expectations, both about ourselves and others, have a direct influence on our body language (CNV). This phenomenon is known as the self-fulfilling prophecy.

If we expect an interaction to be negative or for someone to react in a certain way (e.g., we expect a team member to be disinterested or not trust us), we are likely to unconsciously adjust our body language to reflect that expectation.

Our posture, facial expressions and tone of voice may convey distrust or disapproval without us even realizing it, simply because we expect the interaction to go badly.

How internal negativity is reflected in the body and affects the outcome.

This internal negativity manifests itself physically. For example, if you believe you are not a good presenter, your body will likely reflect that lack of confidence through slouching, evasive eye contact, or nervous gestures.

In turn, this negative CNV influences how the audience perceives you and often leads to precisely the outcome you feared: a poor presentation.

Similarly, if you expect someone to be disinterested and your body projects distrust, you may cause that person to, in fact, withdraw or disengage, thus fulfilling your initial negative expectation.

The end result is directly affected by how our internal beliefs shape our nonverbal communication.

Maintain a positive, self-aware internal dialogue.

To avoid falling into negative self-fulfilling prophecies, it is crucial to be aware of our internal assumptions and beliefs.

We must strive to maintain a positive internal dialogue and an open, non-judgmental mindset.

If you face a presentation and tell yourself "I am a good presenter," your body language is more likely to reflect that confidence, which in turn will improve your actual performance.

Recognizing how our expectations can influence our CNV and actively working to cultivate a positive internal pe