I wait, washed, brushed, fed, like a prize pig. Sometime…
““I wait, washed, brushed, fed, like a prize pig. Sometime in the eighties they invented pig balls, for pigs who were being fattened in pens. Pig balls were large colored balls; the pigs rolled them around with their snouts. The pig marketers said this improved their muscle tone; the pigs were curious, they liked having something to think about. I read about that in Introduction to Psychology; that, and the chapter on caged rats who'd give themselves electric shocks for something to do. And the one on the pigeons trained to peck a button that made a grain of corn appear. Three groups of them: the first one got one grain per peck, the second one grain every other peck, the third was random. When the man in charge cut off the grain, the first group gave up quite soon, the second group a little later. The third group never gave up. They'd peck themselves to death, rather than quit. Who knew what worked? I wish I had a pig ball.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage uses pig enrichment experiments to illustrate how varied reinforcement schedules affect persistence, highlighting that randomness can drive relentless effort.
In simple terms: Random rewards can make subjects persist longer than predictable ones.
Key Takeaway
Consider how reward structures influence motivation.
Themes
motivation
behavior
reinforcement
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
academic
observational
When to use this quote
- workplace incentives
- educational design
- habit formation
- addiction treatment
Key Concepts
psychology
animal behavior
conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do reward patterns shape your habits?
- When is relentless pursuit counterproductive?
A Different Perspective
Randomness may lead to unhealthy persistence.