The Tit-For-Tat Study

Researchers took 1,000 pairs of subjects, 1 subject, and someone they would consider a close friend, and gave them this situation.

“You and a friend are convicted of a crime.

You’re in 2 separate cells being interviewed.

If you admit to the crime, you’ll receive 2 years in prison.

If you both admit to the crime, you’ll both receive 2 years.

If you tell us your friend committed the crime, you’ll be set free and he’ll receive 5 years.

If he tells us you committed the crime, you’ll receive the same 5 years and he’ll be set free.

But if neither of you admit to the crime, you’ll both receive 10 years.

You won’t know what they said until you receive your sentence “

70% of the subjects opted to admit to the crime with their partner admitting as well, willingly receiving 2 years.

The researchers wanted to run the study again with the same subjects, except this time..

This time the subjects were told that they’re friend already admitted to them committing the crime, subjecting them to 5 years in prison, while their friend being set free.

They were asked to opt in their plead..

95% of the subjects switched their answer to ratting out their friend.

Labeling this the “Tit-For-Tat Effect”

This feels very personal to me, because Ive spent most of my life living tit-for-tat😓

I’m not the “cut you off” type of person,

I find the good in others,

I find the good in situations,

I sniff out silver linings like those truffle pigs 🐷

And in the past it’s only left me disappointed, alone, walked over and unconsidered.

I’m for sure the competitive type, I’ll be the guy who brings the gun to the knife fight, brings the knife to the fist fight, and bring the nuclear fucking bomb 💣 to the gun fight😂

But I always felt like I had to be given a reason to launch that shit..

As if winning wasn’t winning if it didn’t come with challenge..

As if I had to be losing first, to turn it on..

I almost embraced it, like if I played basketball against a team I knew we could beat, I’d let them get a lead before I’d come back to crush them..

Here’s where things go wrong, beating your opponent clearly and earnestly provides feedback, honest feedback.

You claim your power and all around everyone becomes better, because of you.

I’ve decided, my last situation where I live tit-for-tat has passed,

Never again will I wait for a “reason” to win,

Never again will I wait for someone to do something shitty so I have permission to move on,

Never again will I let somebody else’s decisions alter my purpose and direction.

You can too, if you just decide you’re done living tit-for-tat.

You have so much to give, so much to build, so much to love,

But you’ll never be able to if you’re waiting for permission to finally pursue it.