How a Harvard Rat Experiment Explains Why New Writers Get Viral Stories
Unravel the intriguing correlation between a Harvard rat experiment and the phenomenon of new writers achieving viral success. Discover how behavioral science can shed light on the unpredictable world of viral content and the role of novice writers in it.
Building a business model on a psychological framework
Dopamine, or “the molecule of more”, kept me going
- I wanted to replicate the success once the views and reads of that story started to flatten out
- The first rule of success is consistency
- So I kept pushing and showing up, diligently waiting for the algorithm to bless me again with a viral piece
The power of hope
In the 1950s, Curt Richter did a famous drowning rats psychology experiment
- Put rats into water containers that forced them to swim to stay alive
- First time in the water, the rats only resisted several minutes swimming before drowning
- After being picked up by the researchers, warmed up, and after they recovered, they were placed back into the containers and lasted not 5, not 30, not 60 minutes, but days before exhaustion
What does this mean for you?
Platforms like Medium, Tinder, and Etsy favor newcomers for the old lads
- We are given the perception of control when in fact, it’s a game of hope that builds resilience
- New writers get their first viral piece and are rescued, and they see hope
- Algorithms forget you if you stop, you lose traction
- Get smarter at building your thing
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