Kitty has been a trainer for many years, and she has become disillusioned with her trainees. she believes that trainees today lack any motivation to learn. this attitude is apparent to her trainees, and her trainees then fail to exert personal initiative, as expected. what phenomenon is most likely occurring in this instance?

The answer to this question is a Self-fulfilling prophecy
Self-fulfilling prophecy refers to a prediction that actually caused itself to became fulfilled through direct and indirect influence.
When Kitty keep berating how her trainees lack any motivation without actually do something about it, Kitty just give the trainees an acknowledgement form them to do so which led them to fail to exert personal initiative.

Kitty's attitude toward her job and her trainees has created a self-fulfilling prophecy. The trainees often fail to perform because they feel like Kitty does not believe they can succeed.