Research has shown that winner and loser effects play a significant role in influencing subsequent contest outcomes in many animals. In experiments with male stickleback fish, it was found that the winners of a fight were more likely to win the following contest, while the losers tended to lose their subsequent fights. These effects have been shown to have an impact on individual behavior and fitness. The winners often exhibit more assertive behavior, while the losers become more submissive. This effect has also been observed in humans, where winners tend to perform better in subsequent tasks compared to losers.
In a recent study published in The Quarterly Review of Biology, authors Noah M. T. Smith and Reuven Dukas provide a narrative review of winner and loser effects in both nonhumans and humans. They explore the causes and consequences of these effects in humans and review how social rank can influence behavior and cognition in both species. It was found that social rank in nonhumans is often determined by physical formidability, while in humans, factors such as social conventions, physical attractiveness, competence in complex skills, and social competence play a more significant role.
The authors also investigated the potential role of winner and loser effects in shaping human behavior and social consequences. They conducted experiments using first-person shooter video games and a reading comprehension assignment to test winner and loser effects in humans. It was found that randomly assigned video game winners performed better in the second phase, and first-phase high scorers had higher reading scores in the second phase than first-phase low scorers. The authors emphasize the importance of random assignment in ruling out selection bias in these experiments.
The findings of this study suggest that winner and loser effects can have a significant impact on human cognition, mood, and behavior. Future research could provide further insights into how and why these effects influence human behavior in various domains. This research could have implications in areas such as “red shirting” in school enrollment, winner and loser effects in investment banking and gambling, and the mood effects of winning and losing. Understanding the mechanisms behind winner and loser effects could help in managing and optimizing performance in various competitive situations.
Overall, winner and loser effects are prevalent in both nonhumans and humans and can significantly influence behavior and performance in competitive situations. The interaction between social rank and winner and loser effects can shape individual behavior and cognitive processes. Future research could shed more light on the underlying mechanisms of these effects and provide further insights into their implications in various areas of human behavior and performance.