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.

Les explains that psychology comes into this, and while it can be used rightly or abused, the principle is clear. If you tell a young man coming up out of his high school years that he is never going to amount to anything, never going to be anything but a drunk, and will probably end up in prison, he will end up just exactly that. He becomes psychologically programmed to think, “All anybody expects me to be is a drunk and a Reform School dropout.” On the other hand, if you encourage a young person, telling him he can be this and do that and be a very glory of God in person, he will quite likely be that.

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.