Writers spend a lot of time crafting what their characters believe about themselves. But sometimes, the most transformative force in a story isn’t what a character thinks about themselves at all. It’s what someone else believes about them.
That’s where the Pygmalion Effect comes in.
What is the Pygmalion Effect?
The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance. When someone expects more from us, we’re more likely to rise to that expectation. The inverse is true too. Low expectations often produce low results.
In storytelling, this isn’t just a fascinating concept. It’s a tool for deepening character relationships, revealing inner conflict, and creating compelling arcs.
Mr. Keating believes in his students’ potential before they believe in themselves. His faith in shy, insecure Todd Anderson helps Todd grow into someone brave enough to stand up and speak out. That transformation—driven by belief—is the Pygmalion Effect in action.
Using the Pygmalion Effect in fiction
When applied to fiction, the Pygmalion Effect creates emotional resonance by making character growth a relational experience. It shifts the arc from “I changed because I had to” to “I changed because someone saw more in me.”
Think mentor and mentee, romantic partners, best friends, siblings, rivals, even enemies.
Examples:
- A struggling musician only begins to believe in her talent because a bandmate refuses to give up on her.
- A gruff detective softens and opens up because his new partner sees him as more than just a case closer.
- A teenage misfit becomes a leader when one teacher treats him like he already is one.
These moments feel satisfying not just because the character changes, but because someone else’s belief helped unlock that change.
The power of belief in character arcs
Let’s be clear. This isn’t about magical thinking or giving characters an easy win. The Pygmalion Effect works best when it’s earned. The believing character can’t just say, “I know you’re better than this.” They have to act like it. They challenge. They hold accountable. They believe even when the character doesn’t.
That belief becomes a mirror, and eventually a blueprint, for the character’s growth.
The arc hits harder because it’s not just internal. It’s relational. It’s vulnerable. And it reflects something deeply human: we often become who we are in the eyes of the people who see us clearly.
Building this dynamic into your story
Ask these questions:
- Who in your story sees the protagonist more clearly than they see themselves?
- How do their actions show belief or doubt?
- How do those perceptions shape the character’s choices or identity?
- What happens when that belief is lost or betrayed?
Character arcs that center on this tension—between how we see ourselves and how others see us—are some of the most emotionally impactful you can write.
Final thoughts
The Pygmalion Effect gives you a way to show growth not just through action or insight, but through connection. It allows for arcs that are rooted in belief, conflict, and trust. When done well, it leads to those full-body, lump-in-the-throat moments that readers remember long after the last page.
Melissa Harkin 
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