Psychologists say that winning the silver medal – coming in second – is actually less satisfying than coming in third – the bronze. Why is that? Sounds weird, but it also sounds right, doesn’t it? Have you ever come in second in a contest or received an A- instead of an A? Find out why winning the silver is…a bummer.

Source for this Week’s Episode

• Medvec, Victoria Husted; Madey, Scott E.; Gilovich, Thomas. When Less is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, Oct 1995, Vol. 69 Issue 4, p603-610.
• Here is the design used in this study:

Michelle Kwan – never won an olympic gold, but still the best:

Photo by Kevin Rushforth