Can telling a teenager that he will never amount to anything make him fulfill that prediction?

Yes. If a teenager is repeatedly told he will never amount to anything, he may internalize that expectation and psychologically program himself toward that outcome. The context explains that such negative predictions can become self-fulfilling, just as encouragement toward worthwhile goals can positively shape a young person's future.

Les explains that psychology, if used rightly, can illustrate this principle. He says that if a young man coming out of his high school years is told, “You're never going to amount to anything, you're never going to be anything but a drunk, you'll probably end up in prison,” he can just about guarantee that the young man will end up exactly that. Why? Because he becomes psychologically programmed to think, “All anybody expects me to be is a drunk in a Reform School dropout.” By contrast, Les says, if a young person is encouraged that he can be this and do that and be a very glory of God in person, he will quite likely become that.

What happens if you tell a young person he will never amount to anything?

If a young person is told he will never amount to anything, he is psychologically programmed toward that outcome and will quite likely become exactly what was predicted—perhaps a drunk, a dropout, or imprisoned. Negative expectations shape behavior; by contrast, encouragement toward positive achievement makes that result more likely.