In The Name Of Love I Am Only Second Best

In I am Only Second Best the author, Aaron Ben-Zeev, explains the effect of feeling second best. Studies show that an athlete who wins third place, versus an athlete who wins second place, feels happier and more accomplished.

This is because athletes who train for long periods of time to reach their goal of being first, will not accept LOSING BY A SMALL MARGIN compared to a larger margin. This shows true for track runners; it is harder for them to accept a loss by just a few seconds or less.

This also shows true in relationships. One partner may be holding on to a previous person or putting their current partner on a pedestal. This causes the partner to compare their new boyfriend/ girlfriend to their previous partner which makes their RELATIONSHIP a constant competition. Society in general has a "winner-take-all" attitude and is generally very competitive. American society does not like coming short of perfection and will do anything to be the best.

Do you agree with the statement that " A SECOND PLACE WINNER is happier than a third place winner?" Why or why not? Do you think it is equally possible to be just as happy being SECOND BEST? (In both athletic competitions and in relationships)