Why We Do What We Do

Why do we love to compete? From Olympic games to trivia nights, competition is everywhere—but what drives us to strive, push, and sometimes obsess over being the best? In this episode, we explore the origins of competition, its role in evolution and society, and why it’s both thrilling and necessary. Whether it's sports, art, or even board games, we unpack how competition connects us, challenges us, and shapes the world we live in.

Recommendations

• Abraham: Bonk (by Mary Roach; https://maryroach.net/bonk.html)
• Shane: The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Equation-of-Isaac-Severy/Nova-Jacobs/9781501175138)

Holidays 1/22/25:

• Celebration of Life Day
• Come in from the Cold Day
• Dance of the Seven Veils Day
• Library Shelfie Day
• National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
• National Blonde Brownie Day
• National Hot Sauce Day
• National Polka Dot Day
• Roe vs. Wade Day
• Cancertalk Week
• Energy Saving Week
• Healthy Weight Week
• Hunt for Happiness Week
• International Hoof Care Week

Links and References:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763423002014#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20social%20play%20in,Kramer%20and%20Burghardt%2C%201998).
2. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2345#:~:text=(c)%20Playful%20elements,of%20the%20interaction%20(P5).
3. https://gizmodo.com/do-animals-have-a-sense-of-competition-1823122780#:~:text=Jennifer%20Nadeau&text=My%20expertise%20is%20with%20horses,in%20their%20own%20unique%20way.&text=If%20playback%20doesn't%20begin%20shortly%2C%20try%20restarting%20your%20device.
4. https://youtu.be/OvUlOzqQtzc?si=Yfi9DpW3Rzb2wQle
5. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/galapagos-tortoise#:~:text=If%20a%20fight%20breaks%20out,and%20the%20battle%20is%20over.
6. Franken, R. E., & Brown, D. J. (1995). Why do people like competition? The motivation for winning, putting forth effort, improving one's performance, performing well, being instrumental, and expressing forceful/aggressive behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 19(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(95)00035-5
7. https://online.eou.edu/resources/article/psychology-of-competitiveness/
8. https://www.reddit.com/r/Adulting/comments/1dn1jnx/why_are_some_people_so_competitive_about_life/?rdt=65364
9. https://nitsjournal.com/psychology/why-do-humans-naturally-love-to-compete-besting-their-peers/
10. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/socially-relevant/201506/the-psychology-competition
11. https://vocal.media/men/the-innate-urge-why-humans-crave-competition
12. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-we-compete-dave-williams/
13. https://medium.com/@mscarey/why-humans-are-driven-to-compete-ffacc5f313c6

https://www.statista.com/forecasts/884970/other-gambling-industries-revenue-in-the-us

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