Near misses, also called near wins, are said to occur when the elements of a game or task “suggest” to a player that they have almost achieved a favorable result. Behaviorist R. L. Reid coined this The Psychology of the Near Miss. Much of his work centered upon the gambling industry, determining what motivates someone to keep playing, in the face of losing. Research suggests that The Psychology of the Near Miss applies just the same to near wins in sports, business, and essentially any activity with a goal.
Three Findings of Near Miss Psychology:
“A near miss is a special kind of failure to reach a goal, one that comes close to being successful.” - R.L. Reid
While often disappointment follows in the wake of a clear loss, the opposite is true when it comes to the near miss. A near miss is an adrenaline rush fueling momentum to try again.
“Near misses are widely believed to encourage future play, even in games of chance where the probability of winning remains constant from trial to trial.”- R.L. Reid
The perception of proximity to winning encourages one to re-attempt the goal. Interestingly, research suggests that the near miss may be more psychologically motivating than either winning or losing, regardless of probabilities.
“The occurrence of a near miss may be taken as an encouraging sign, confirming the player’s strategy and raising hopes for future success.” - R.L. Reid
A win suggests that the strategy worked and no additional skill broadening is necessary. A clear loss suggests that the strategy did not work and thus broadening that skill may be nugatory. The near win is the only alternative which suggests psychologically that expanding or rehearsing the skill may lead to positive outcomes, regardless of whether that is truly the case.
Writer’s Note: The Psychology of the Near Miss or should it be The Psychology of the Almost Won. It’s not only beauty that is in the eye of the beholder.
Almost… Believe… Hope
Post Script: If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy an earlier article that discusses why the goal of the goal is not the goal. CLICK HERE to learn more.