Winners and Cheating
The Winner's Paradox: Why Winning Leads to More Wanting
Winning releases high [[Dopamine]]. It feels good, but it's not the "Here and Now" kind of good—it's the "wanting more" kind of good.
This is why winners want to win more. Winning becomes a high, a dopamine rush that creates craving rather than contentment.
The Dark Side: Winning at Any Cost
Winners may even cheat to maximize their future gains because high dopamine levels can diminish prefrontal cortex (PFC) function.
When dopamine floods the system:
- Impulse control weakens
- Ethical reasoning becomes impaired
- Short-term reward outweighs long-term consequences
- The ends justify the means
This creates a dangerous cycle: winning → dopa