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There is no term that is greater praise to most people than the word “winner.”   Winner is synonymous with the terms achiever, success, victor, first, champion, and master.  No wonder people across all cultures want to be considered a “winner.” 

The word winner comes from the Middle English word winnere, which originated between 1325 and 1375. Winne is an agent noun derived from the Old English word winnan, which means “to win” or “to strive”. The earliest known use of the word winner is in the work Winner & Waster from 1352.  So, for nearly 700 years, we have understood that a winner is one who conquers, vanquishes or is successful especially through praiseworthy ability and hard work while a “waster” is someone who uses or expends carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.

That may be why “winning” has such a profound physiological impact on the human brain.  Winning aggressive social encounters can enhance the probability of future victories.  Evidence of the Winner Effect in humans has been found by researchers in studies of sports competitions, video games, and even reading comprehension. But the Winner Effect doesn’t just apply to humans.  It has been observed by researchers in animals as well, who don’t know the term “winner.”  In animal species, researchers found that when animals win a contest, it increases the likelihood of winning future contests.  In animals, this helps shape social structures and relationships, such as dominance hierarchies. 

A Scientific Look at Success

The idea that winning or succeeding in one endeavor can boost confidence, motivation, and performance in subsequent tasks sounds a little like pseudo-science. But this phenomenon has been observed in both humans and animals, and it has profound implications for understanding achievement and success.

Let’s start with animals.  In the animal kingdom, the Winner Effect has been documented in various species. Studies on primates, for example, have shown that dominant animals are more likely to win future contests, often due to their established reputation and the fear they inspire in their opponents. This phenomenon has also been observed in other animals, such as birds and the stickleback fish. The Winner Effect can help to establish social hierarchies and dominance relationships, and can influence an animal’s ability to access resources, territories, and reproductive opportunities.

But what about in humans?  Numerous studies have validated the Winner Effect in humans, too. For instance, researchers found that children who won a game of chance were more likely to perform better on subsequent tasks, even when the tasks were unrelated to the game. Similar findings have been observed in athletes, where winning a competition often leads to increased confidence and improved performance in future matches.  For example, a study of tennis matches found that a close win in the first set gave a player a 60% chance of winning the second set, compared to 40% for the loser. 

In Dr. Ian Robertson’s The Winner Effect: The Science of Success and How to Use It, he describes that in nature, biologists have long understood the consequences of the “winner” effect as a kind of success flywheel.  In the Winner Effect, when rivals compete, there is a massive release of testosterone and dopamine in the brains of the one who wins the challenge, while the loser experiences the exact opposite, an immediate decrease in testosterone and dopamine.

Due to the “loser” effect, the loser of the challenge is kept from being injured and thus is able to show up again to compete in challenges where it would be outranked and lose again. Over time, the losers in these competitions become more timid and submissive, avoiding the costs they might incur by continuing to get into fights and challenging the dominance hierarchy.

The winner, however, experiences the opposite. Physical changes occur in their nervous system and endocrine systems that encourage more winning. In both instances the loser and winner effects have begun what business gurus, such as Jim Collins, would call a flywheel. So what does a flywheel do?  A flywheel is a heavy round weight attached to the shaft of an engine. It maintains rotational inertia, meaning it takes energy to make it spin, but once it is spinning it wants to keep spinning.  The Winner Effect creates a positive feedback loop that self-reinforces until the momentum being built begins to move the wheel effortlessly and it takes on its own propulsion pulling the person along with its force.

The Winner Effect is thought to be caused by internal changes that happen after a victory, such as changes in perceived or actual fighting ability. When someone wins something, the brain releases dopamine and testosterone, which are associated with confidence, attention, and mood. The brain is also believed to rewire itself for success over time.  In other words….success will continue to pull a winner toward more success….and losers toward more failure.

Understanding the Mechanisms Behind the Winner Effect

The exact mechanisms underlying the Winner Effect are complex but involve physiological effects on the body as well as a combination of psychological and social factors, including:

1. Confidence and Self-Belief

Winning boosts self-esteem and confidence, leading individuals to believe in their abilities and approach future endeavors and challenges with greater determination.  “I think I can” becomes “I know I can” and that becomes “I did it!”

2. Motivation and Goal Setting

Winning can increase motivation and drive individuals to set higher goals for themselves, leading to increased effort and persistence.  Kids who have successes in sports at a very early age then want to practice more.  That practice helps them win games which then leads to even more practice and possibly better coaching.   Sociologist and author Malcolm Gladwell discussed this phenomena in his book, Outliers.  A child who has a bit more wins at an early age gets more playing time.  That extra practice increases his focus and boosts his confidence.  By the end of the season, the gap in ability continues to grow.  More is expected of the kid who wins and thus more effort and persistence is exerted.  Higher goals are set.  Over the years, that little head start, provided by a win or two, then amplifies to a huge gap in ability even if both kids have similar genetic ability.

3. Social Status and Recognition

Success can elevate an individual’s social status and garner recognition from peers. This can reinforce positive self-image and create a virtuous cycle of achievement.  The winner is going to try harder to continue to get recognition. 

4. Neural Mechanisms

Even at the molecular level, success breeds success.  Studies suggest that winning can activate specific brain regions associated with reward and pleasure, reinforcing positive behaviors and increasing the likelihood of future success.

Leveraging the Winner Effect for Success

Understanding the Winner Effect can provide valuable insights into strategies for achieving success.  Start by focusing on accumulating small wins by breaking down large goals into manageable tasks, celebrating each achievement, and using the positive momentum from those wins to build confidence and motivation for bigger challenges, essentially creating a positive feedback loop of success. 

1. Celebrate small wins.  Acknowledge and actively celebrate even minor accomplishments, as they contribute to a sense of progress and build belief in the ability to achieve larger goals. 

2. Break down big goals.  Divide large objectives into smaller, more achievable steps, allowing you to experience frequent wins along the way. 

3. Maintain a positive mindset.  Focus on the positive aspects of progress and use past successes to fuel future motivation. 

4. Seek out achievable challenges.  Start with challenges that are within reach to build confidence and momentum early on. Small, achievable goals establish a “winning streak.” With each win, gradually increase the difficulty of the goal. 

5.  Visualize success.  Practice visualizing goals being achieved.  Imagine jumping up and down for joy or pumping a fist into the air.  This can enhance a belief in the ability to succeed. 

6. Minimize setbacks but learn from those that happen.  Analyze past failures to identify areas for improvement and use them as opportunities to grow.  But try to minimize losses as they can have the opposite effect of reinforcing losing.

7. Create a supportive environment.  Create a circle of positive people who encourage progress and celebrate wins. That is what is needed playing back internally.

8. Practice Mindfulness – Mindfulness techniques can help stay present and focused, reducing anxiety and improving performance.

Does Knowledge of the Winner Effect Dampen Its Effect?

While being aware of the Winner Effect can provide valuable insights, it is unlikely to significantly dampen its impact. In fact, understanding the phenomenon can help individuals harness its power more effectively. By recognizing the potential benefits of success and taking steps to capitalize on them, individuals can increase their chances of achieving goals.

Quote of the Week
“There’s nothing in the world that breeds success like success.” Bob Ross

© 2024, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.