{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change","title":"Think Thursday: The Strange Psychology of Almost","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/64d79bd4\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":668,"description":"Think Thursday: The Strange Psychology of Almost\nWhy do Olympic bronze medalists sometimes appear happier than silver medalists? The answer reveals something fascinating about how our brains process disappointment, success, and the things that almost happened.\nIn this episode of Think Thursday, we're exploring counterfactual thinking—our brain's tendency to imagine alternative outcomes and how those imagined possibilities influence our emotions.\nWe'll explore:\nWhy finishing second can sometimes feel worse than finishing third.\nHow \"if only\" and \"what if\" thinking shape our emotional experiences.\nWhy near misses can create surprisingly intense disappointment.\nThe difference between learning from the past and getting stuck in regret.\nHow becoming aware of our mental comparisons can help us appreciate our progress.\nThe takeaway: What happened is only part of the experience. What we believe it means—and what we're comparing it to—plays a powerful role in how we feel.\nResearch mentioned:\nMedvec, Madey & Gilovich (1995) — When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists.\nKahneman & Miller (1986) — Norm Theory: Comparing Reality to Its Alternatives.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/zu3PtA3XzNKb2qSH95OKvfAaoixqds182Hao41kpkws/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZjY5/NjVmY2Y2MGQ0NmMx/NGNiMzdiZGY0OTMz/OWQzMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}