Merton developed the theory of the “self-fulfilling prophecy.” This means that individuals may say to themselves something like, "I am from the poor class, my family has always been poor, there is no chance I will ever become rich" and even though this statement had the potential to not it ends up being true, it became true simply because the individual believed it to be true, therefore it became true. I find this theory to be true, being a natural optimist myself. Thoughts become actions. What we believe we will become. The lifestyle choices people make determine the social stratosphere and whether or not they will move up or down the ladder of social mobility. Although people often have to struggle, they are not condemned to maintain the same chance at life that they were given. To the single mother of four living on government support, unable to better herself with the tools needed to get ahead, who is upset that her best friend gets to travel the world with her college degree. Various life choices have chosen this path