Tinkerbell Effect
The idea that the more you believe in something, the more it becomes a reality (and when you stop believing in something, it ceases to exist).
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
In J.M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan, Tinker Bell drinks poison to save Peter and can only be revived if the audience claps to show they believe in fairies. The scene became a metaphor for belief sustaining reality, applied in fields from economics to social psychology.
Everyday Use
So much of human society depends on our belief in the society itself — from the value of currency, to the rule of law. A famous example of the Tinkerbell Effect is the 'Reality Distortion Field' that Steve Jobs maintained about his work.
Updated December 10, 2020