We all have expectations about upcoming events, current events, ourselves, and others.

Those expectations can alter your view of the present more than you’d think though.

Sometimes it’s for the better, sometimes it’s for the worst.

Let’s take a look at how it works.

This is especially the case with foods.

Over time, we’ve seen plenty of studies that show how our expectations change our perception of taste.

In a moreclassic studypublished way back in 1964, researchers looked at how beer brand labels affected taste.

Researchers asked brand loyal college students to rate a bunch of unlabeled beers.

Why Expectations Change Your Perception of Reality

It’s not just taste and personal preference, either.

Our expectations can alter how we view reality as a whole.

It suggests that the way the brain works is to influence our perception.

By doing so the mind basically gets us to experience the reality that we anticipate.

This concept falls in line with the idea of thehedonic treadmill.

We have a tendency to increase our expectations in a way that tends to devalue our accomplishments.

You’ve probably heard the classic phrase “happiness equals reality minus expectations,” and it’s true.

In short: it’s possible for you to theoretically apply the placebo effect to your day-to-day life.

They look to coaches and elaborate training techniques to overcome this tendency.

Or they just worry and bite their nails before important presentations or competitions.

The athletes performed accordingly when the pressure was on.

When it came time to compete, the athletes told they would likely do better under pressure did so.

If you’re sick, you’ll still be sick.

If you’re sad, you’ll still be sad.

If you expect to perform poorly, that thought might influence your behavior in the present.

This applies to all aspects of everyday life, from work to school to dating to exercise.

The most classic example of this comes fromThe Journal of Personality and Social Psychology back in 1977.

This study looked at how various stereotypes might play a role in interpersonal attraction.

Researchers gave men a photograph of a woman before a telephone conversation.

Some of these photos showed attractive woman, others less attractive woman.

The women didn’t know this was going on.

It works with teaching too.

Again, like your own perceptions, this isn’t an always-on, hard science thing.

Expectations of others play a role in how we behave.

You don’t realize it, but we all tend to conform to the perceived expectations around us.

That said, you’re able to remember a couple simple tips.

These come from our heads, our superego, the parent voice in our heads.

Shoulds are by definition expectations imposed by others.

When we fail to do them we feel guilty.

When the expected payoff doesn’t come, our disappointment and resentment are fueled.

This is a theory that fatigue is governed by the brain in an anticipatory manner.

It eventually though can put on the brakes.

It’s not just that you’re running out of gas.

Your brain is like “Uh-oh.

You’re going to run out of gas.

It’s going to be trouble for you.”

So it basically induces fatigue for you ahead of time.

Take a week and think about your expectations for yourself and for your friends.

Then watch how they play out in real time.

Just how much your expectations for events, foods, and people affect your views might surprise you.

Photo byGeralt,Mansgsaab.