A bibliometric analysis of the Pygmalion effect in organization studies

Perihan Senel Tekin, Ankara UniversityFollow
Fevziye Bekar, Gumushane UniversityFollow
Duysal Askun Celik, Istanbul Topkapi UniversityFollow

Abstract

This research aims to examine the literature on the Pygmalion effect, which is expressed as a self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of management organization from a bibliometric perspective. In this context, all relevant publications in the Web of Science database were scanned between 01-06.06.2024. In the first and second searches with the words Pygmalion, Pygmalion effect, Pygmalionism, management, and organization, a total of 27 research articles were subjected to content analysis within the scope of a systematic review. As a result of the content analysis, it was seen that although the Pygmalion effect has been found in the context of organization and management since 1979, there is a limited number of studies. These studies remain in the context of military organizations and individual performance. This limited literature, which reveals that the Pygmalion effect is important in the organizational context, sheds light on the variables that need to be investigated. It is obvious that the Pygmalion effect, starting with leadership and related variables, is a niche area where the Pygmalion effect can be examined at individual and group levels in the context of the organization, and many variables can be addressed in terms of antecedents and consequences.

Keywords

self-fulfilling prophecy, employee performance, management, leader expectation, systematic review

Chinese Abstract

组织研究中皮格马利翁效应（Pygmalion effect）的文献计量分析

本研究旨在从文献计量学的角度，检视在管理学组织情景下表现为一种自我实现预言的皮格马利翁效应（Pygmalion effect）的文献其在。在此背景下，研究在2024 年 6 月 1 日至 6 月 6 日期间，审视了Web of Science 资料库由所有相关的发表文章。在第一次和第二次搜寻中，使用「皮格马利翁」、「皮格马利翁效应」、「皮格马利翁主义」、「管理与组织」等词语作为搜寻关键字，共对 27 篇研究文章在系统性文献回顾的范围内进行了内容分析。内容分析的结果显示，虽然自1979年以来皮格马利翁效应在组织和管理的背景下被发现，但研究数量有限。这些研究仍然以军事组织和个人表现为主要背景。这些有限的文献表明皮格马利翁效应在组织环境中的重要性，并揭示了需要研究的变量。从领导力和相关变数开始的皮格马利翁效应明显是一个有特定的领域。在组织的背景下，皮格马利翁效应可以就个人和群体层面上进行检验，并且可以根据前因和后果来处理多种变量。

自我实现预言、员工绩效、管理、领导期望、系统性文献回顾

ORCID Identifiers

Perihan Senel Tekin: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-7049

Fevziye Bekar: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1692-4294

Duysal Askun Celik: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6678-8810

DOI

10.5038/2640-6489.10.1.1334

Recommended Citation

Senel Tekin, P., Bekar, F., & Askun Celik, D. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of the Pygmalion effect in organization studies. Journal of Global Business Insights, 10(1), 67-80. https://www.doi.org/10.5038/2640-6489.10.1.1334