When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists

Victoria Husted Medvec, Scott F. Madey, Thomas Gilovich*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

344 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research on counterfactual thinking has shown that people's emotional responses to events are influenced by their thoughts about "what might have been." The authors extend these findings by documenting a familiar occasion in which those who are objectively better off nonetheless feel worse. In particular, an analysis of the emotional reactions of bronze and silver medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics-both at the conclusion of their events and on the medal stand-indicates that bronze medalists tend to be happier than silver medalists. The authors attribute these results to the fact that the most compelling counterfactual alternative for the silver medalist is winning the gold, whereas for the bronze medalist it is finishing without a medal. Support for this interpretation was obtained from the 1992 Olympics and the 1994 Empire State Games. The discussion focuses on the implications of endowment and contrast for well being.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)603-610
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of personality and social psychology
Volume69
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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