psychology of sport

Yesterday morning I went to the range to hit golf balls with another graduate student. He had never played golf before and wanted to give it a shot. (Get it? Shot?). We get along really well, and as we often do, we chatted about various things as we went about our business. After he'd whiffed (swung and missed) a few times in a row, I told him about how golf always keeps people coming back because we all hit a really great shot every once in a while. The good feeling sustains us until the next one comes along. He pointed out that golf "just puts people on a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement."

I was thunderstruck. Of course it does! (Get it? Course?). For those unfamiliar with both golf and behaviorism, the revelation isn't extremely consequential. But now I understand why I can't stop playing sports. They're actually addictive. And I have proof!

Here's what happens. People respond to rewards. If you do something and are rewarded, you're likely to do it again. There are many different types of rewards (e.g., money, food, etc.) and some are more effective than others. Interestingly, the timing of the rewards is also a very important part of their effectiveness. It turns out that the most effective schedule is one where you're certain the reward is going to come, but you're never quite sure when (a variable-ratio schedule).

Think about it this way, you go to a casino that has two machines (small casino). One machine, the change machine, gives you four quarters every time you put in a dollar. Not very exciting.  The other machine, the slot machine, doesn't give you the same thing every time you put in a dollar, but you can be certain that you're going to win something eventually. Even though the machine gives you nothing the majority of the time, you sometimes get a few quarters, sometimes you get a few dollars, sometimes you get hundreds of dollars. There's even a chance that you'll get thousands, or even millions, of dollars. And you never know precisely when. Very exciting for most people.

Nobody ever got addicted to a change machine. Lots of people get addicted to slot machines.

Which brings me back to sports. Everyone, from the causal player such as myself to the consummate professional, all of us, we're on variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement. The perfect drive, the sweetly swished three pointer, the crushing home run--we never know when exactly they'll come but we're certain they WILL come if we just try longer and harder (TWSS). And that's what brings us back, time and time again. At least now I have an excuse.

P.S. This was blogged from the toilet. Just thought you should know.