Hmmm.... I imagine it would have to do with their level of aspiration. I don't know much about individual differences, but Michael's question reminded me of a neat study by Victoria Medvec, Tom Gilovich, & Scott Madey; they had participants rate the faces of Olympic athletes as they finished their events for positive affect. They found that bronze winners showed more positive affect than silver winners, and their explanation was that bronze winners were more likely to make downward comparisons (e.g., if they had run a little slower they wouldn't have received a medal), whereas silver winners were more likely to make upward comparisons (e.g., if they had run a little faster they would have recieved a gold medal).
Marty Bourgeois Univerisity of Wyoming -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 10:27 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: student's question why may some olympic atheletes be happy with a bronze medal and others be dissatisfied with a silver? Michael Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
