Lobster-fights, Seretonin, and Win-Streaks

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Jordan Peterson is a psychologist who articulates interesting ideas about politics, society, philosophy, literature, mating, self-development, etc.

He explains an interesting phenomenon in lobsters:



Cliffs:
  • Every time a lobster wins a fight [against another lobster], his serotonin [neurochemical responsible for feelings of happiness & well-being] increases. The more fights the lobster wins- the more he expands in confidence and is likelier to win the next fight.
  • Every time a lobster loses a fight [against another lobster], his serotonin decreases, body coils, and becomes less likely to win a fight afterward.
  • Antidepressants reversed this effect in lobsters.
The reason I post this in an MMA forum is that I think there might be an interesting parallel with that phenomenon and MMA fighters.

When fighters lose we often see a deterioration in skill/abilities with them in their next fights.

When fighters accumulate win-streaks they look scarier and scarier.

We evolved apart from lobsters millions of years ago but we still crudely share that relationship with serotonin.

It also explains why fighters "developed" through cherry-picked matchmaking generally become better fighters than fighters that go through the gauntlet from the start.

Thoughts?
 
So give MMA fighters anti-depressants? Nice try, Big-Pharma schill
 
How well did the TRT lobster perform?
 
If the UFC actually had the money to afford A level athletes this would be your HW champ:

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But seriously, great post. Along with mileage and aging the confidence levels can greatly contribute to decline. We have seen many great fighters lose one big fight, and then another and then another and it does seem to be a snowball effect.

Especially when they become gunshy and hesitate to pull the trigger like what Rashad and Hendricks are struggling with now.
 
Another gem from Jordan Peterson: confidence breeds success.

BRILLIANT!!!
 
<mma4>
They do say the game is 90% mental. The more fights you lose the harder it is to come back from it, 1 lose turns into 3 real quick just look at weidman. That’s why sometimes you need those tune up fights to get your confidence back up. Respect to weidman for wanting to continue fighting killers and not wanting to take those tune up fights
 
It also explains why fighters "developed" through cherry-picked matchmaking generally become better fighters than fighters that go through the gauntlet from the start.

You hit the nail on the head, it's something that has been applied in boxing for the longest time when building 'up' a fighter. Now we are beginning to see that more and more with the UFC, even though their past mentality had been; throw them in the shark infested waters, sink or swim.

Great thread by the way.
 
A couple of things:

- "hot streaks" are real. If a basketball team makes a series of baskets in a row, statistically, the next one will score as well. The same is true for baseball players as well. Scientists have determined that the same part of the brain that we use when learning new things kicks on when our teammates do well.

- When chimpanzees win a fight and move up the social ladder, the same chemicals kick in that a person gets when they are promoted at work. Specifically, this study mentioned when soldiers get promoted in rank.

- 100 years ago, the state of NH said that feeding inmates lobster was cruel and unusual punishment.
 
We need more and more lobster research in the world. I'm 100% serious.
 
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