Self-fulfilling prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that, in being made, actually causes itself to become true. For example, in the stock market, if it is widely believed that a crash is imminent, investors may lose confidence, sell most of their stock, and actually cause the crash. Or, if a candidate in an election openly declares he does not believe he can win, this may increase voter apathy and result in poor support for his campaign.

Technology

In 1965, Gordon Moore predicted that the number of transistors on integrated circuits would double every 18 months. This prediction, which became known as Moore's law, was initially an observation of a trend in the early days of the semiconductor industry. However, it became a benchmark for the evolution of the industry, and a goal companies focused on attaining. It thus became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Related Topics:
Gordon Moore - Transistor - Integrated circuit - Moore's law - Semiconductor

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