“Unrealistic expectations are potentially damaging because they set us and others up for failure,” said Selena C. Snow, Ph. D, a clinical psychologist in Rockville, Md. When we or someone else naturally falls short, we draw false conclusions, feel negative feelings and act in negative ways, she said.

What does it mean to have unrealistic expectations?

If you say that someone is being unrealistic, you mean that they do not recognize the truth about a situation, especially about the difficulties involved in something they want to achieve.

How are expectations harmful?

Living by Others Expectations Can Be Harmful Expectations are unavoidable, but when we internalize them the wrong way, it can affect us negatively in a number of ways: It can breed anger and resentment.

What do you call people with high expectations?

perfectionist Add to list Share. A perfectionist is someone with very high standards: they want everything to be just right at all times. Perfectionists tend to do very good work because of their high standards.

How do expectations affect behavior?

For decades, research has shown that our perception of the world is influenced by our expectations. These expectations, also called “prior beliefs,” help us make sense of what we are perceiving in the present, based on similar past experiences.