Winning doesn’t matter, we’re told. How many times have you heard the saying about “not winning but taking part”? Probably a lot. However, there’s no denying that all of us feel joy winning at games. Why is that so?
In a nutshell, natural selection builds a brain that rewards you with a good feeling when you win. Back in the 1980s, it was discovered that serotonin is that good feeling that occurs in your body when you come out as a winner.
Although winning isn’t everything, there’s no denying that it feels pretty damn good. There are many benefits of winning, and some of the main ones include:
- A self-confidence boost
- Validation from others
- A drive to keep going
It can be said that competition makes the world go round. And, believe it or not, not everyone feels the urge to win at all costs. Some people are perfectly content with just doing their best, which is not a bad thing at all.
On the other hand, people who attach their existence to winning and become obsessed are bound to feel the opposite when they lose and even go to the extent of killing themselves as they think there’s nothing great to look forward to.
Finally, it’s very important to avoid the extreme in either situation. The key in everything is balance. And as some wise soul once said: “Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart.”
Why Do People Feel Happy When Their Favorite Sports Team Wins?
It’s pretty incredible when you think how much fulfillment people get by supporting their favorite sports team. Sports fans look at a game like it’s a story. There’s a beginning, middle, and end with plenty of mystery and drama.
Generally, sports fans choose their favorite sports teams just like people choose their favorite characters in movies or TV shows. Sometimes, people choose their favorite team based on geography or based on their preference for a particular player who resembles them somehow or has some quality they admire.
Nonetheless, it’s truly fascinating how we can join a tribe with which we have no other connection except for sports, and we can accept them as a sort of family. And when an individuals’ favorite team wins, it’s as if they win as well.
Sports fans show support to their favorite teams in all kinds of ways, from dressing in a certain way and cheering to buying tickets to see them live and even placing a bet on the outcome to show how much they believe their favorite team will win.
It’s Not All About Winning
If there’s one thing that can be said with certainty, it’s that we don’t easily forget the times we’ve won at something. They’re the easiest things to remember, and when things get hard, we like to relive those particular moments.
Undoubtedly, winning makes us feel joy like we’ve accomplished something great. However, it doesn’t force us to self-reflect and self-improve. Quite frankly, it doesn’t make us better people.
Although losing doesn’t feel good, it builds character. And only when we lose do we reflect and improve as individuals. No one had ever determined where their weak points were or figured out how to fix them when they won.
While losing sucks on the one hand, on the other, it makes room for improvements, and how can we become better at something if we don’t work on ourselves? Therefore, it’s totally okay to lose time and time again. It builds character and makes us stronger.
This is the main draw towards things like pokies at online casinos, where you should always play to have fun and feel the thrill. This way your main investment will always be emotional and never actually impact your financial stability.
Believe it or not, learning how to deal with loss is one of the most important lessons in life. Life is a series of games. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, and you just have to accept it and learn to deal with it.
Science Behind the Joy Of Playing Games
For centuries, playing games has been one of the most fun activities that brought people around the world tremendous joy in life. Nowadays, there is scientific evidence to prove that playing games can actually make you happier, smarter, and healthier. From improving memory and helping to maintain cognitive function to releasing important feel-good chemicals.
When you’re enjoying a game, the body releases endorphins. These are also known as a “natural high” because they create feelings of happiness. When you win, you often find yourself spending the rest of your day on cloud nine, all thanks to the injection of endorphin hormones.
Additionally, the release of oxytocin has a calming effect on the body and is commonly released during certain types of games that require communication and cooperation.
Finally, dopamine is a hormone that spurs on a gamer’s reward-motivated behavior, as it encourages people to take action towards their goals.