Do you have the ability to recognize negative, self fulfilling prophecies within yourself?

For example, if you were raised at a time when racism was the norm, say, prior to the 60’s, but since then attitudes have changed, and tensions have lessened, but the concept that everyone is racist stays with you. Because of this, you view other people’s actions, even innocent ones, through that lens….thus possibly turning a non-racial incident into a racial incident, which confirms what you already “know,” which is everyone is racist.

A great example of this, of course, is the high profile black guy who was arrested when he was trying to break into his own home. The arrest was perfectly logical and reasonable, but he turned it into a racial incident. According to him the fact that they ended up treating him poorly had nothing to do with the fact that he was acting like a belligerent AH from the git-go, but he was treated poorly because he was black.

Another example,I used to date a black guy who was born and raised in Selma, Al throughout the 50’s and 60’s. When we were dating, in the 90’s, he saw every negative incident as being racially motivated. If he got the wrong change, or they messed up his food order at the drive thru, it was because he was black….

This can be applied in so many different areas. If you’re convinced you’re stupid, you see all the actions of others as confirming that. If you think everyone hates you, you will bring that to pass as well.

Do you have any self-fulfilling “expectations” in your nature?