The Mindset Behind Winning

Psychology Behind Winning

More often than not, winning is the end-all-be-all in sports; there is no greater achievement than placing first in a competitive meet. Yet just like losing, there are lessons and drawbacks to take away from winning.

Biology

The desire to win is instinctive, stemming from concepts like “survival of the fittest” and the hierarchies within species regarding health, capability, and physicality. Winning increases testosterone levels, which consequently produces more dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin; all chemicals associated with pleasure. This activation of the reward system in the brain is what makes winning so addictive, so much so that excessive victory acts biologically akin to drugs– gradual decrease in stimulation with increased exposure. As such, those who become accustomed to winning do not experience the same levels of joy as those who don’t.

Winner’s Phenomenon

Research has shown that during the Olympics, those who placed third– despite winning a title of lower prestige– were often happier than those who placed second. This can be attributed to counterfactual thinking, or the human tendency to compare alternatives to life events that have already occurred. Silver medalists tend to place emphasis on the alternative to winning gold and therefore diminish their accomplishment of second, whereas bronze medalists tend to place emphasis on the alternative to not winning a medal at all; the result of this counterfactual thinking is a happier third place winner. 

This mindset was especially apparent in a study where footage of winner announcements and medal ceremonies during the 1992 Barcelona summer olympics was shown to undergraduate students. They were asked to rate their happiness on a scale of 1-10, with 1 representing "agony" and 10 "ecstasy." From reviewing this footage, silver and bronze medalists scored an average of 4.8 and 7.1 respectively following the announcement, as well as 4.3 and 5.7 during the medal ceremony. This concept can be applied universally but is especially prominent among sport competitions where rankings are objective and succinct.

Detriments to winning

With winning comes increased expectations, comparisons, and pressure to constantly perform at higher and higher levels. As such, athletes become more prone to burnout and fatigue, especially if they struggle to maintain previous levels of success. Ideas such as “defending champion” or “rooting for the underdog” all foster an environment that does little to nurture proper experimentation and growth. The higher the climb, the steeper the fall: the stress from having to maintain a winner’s reputation may become overwhelming, ultimately kickstarting a series of mental challenges when the fall does inevitably come. 

On the flip side, athletes may become complacent if winning becomes too easy, thus leading to the development of poor habits. Some tend to settle in comfort, in terms of work and performance, rather than striving for improvement. These can be remedied by developing a relationship with athletics that extends beyond the superficial standard win or lose and choosing to aim for intrinsic goals like self-fulfillment and improvement. 

Winning and losing, though opposing concepts, prove to be two sides of the same coin. There are pros and cons to both, each lending their contributions to character and growth, and each constantly fueling the other. 

Sources:

InnerDrive. Why Do We like Winning? https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/sports/why-we-like-winning#:~:text=And%20when%20we%20win%2C%20we,important%20in%20shaping%20people’s%20lives. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024. 

Clear, David B. “Why Third-Place Winners Are Often Happier Than Second-Place Winners.” I Wanna Know, 1 Mar. 2021, https://medium.com/i-wanna-know/why-third-place-winners-are-often-happier-than-second-place-winners-a3b58bf8b974. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024. 

Marks, Ben. “Pressure of Staying at the Top.” BelievePerform - The UK’s Leading Sports Psychology Website, 24 May 2013, https://members.believeperform.com/pressure-of-staying-at-the-top/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024. 

Goldman, Jason G. “Why Bronze Medalists Are Happier Than Silver Winners.” Scientific American Blog Network, 9 Aug. 2012, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/why-bronze-medalists-are-happier-than-silver-winners/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.