A friend Jeff told me his son Jason was a good bowler; Jason's high school bowling team recently placed fifth in the state meet.
Father and son bowled together last week, and whenever Jason got three spares and/or strikes in a row, he would predict, "Watch this, after three in a row, my next frame is usually open [no spare or strike]."
To combat such a self-fulfilling prophesy, Jeff told his son that for continuous strikes or spares, he would pay a penny for the first frame, t...wo pennies for the next, four for the next, doubling the amount each frame; however, an open frame would earn nothing and reset the next successful frame to a penny. When winnings double down each frame, they increase slowly at first, then grow quickly: If Jason bowled a perfect game of twelve strikes he would receive $45.95.
With that incentive, Jason bowled 269—his highest game ever—with ten strikes, one spare and one open frame. Jeff said the game cost him 46 cents.
When rewards, no matter how small, are added to a game (even the game of life), attitudes change.
Father and son bowled together last week, and whenever Jason got three spares and/or strikes in a row, he would predict, "Watch this, after three in a row, my next frame is usually open [no spare or strike]."
To combat such a self-fulfilling prophesy, Jeff told his son that for continuous strikes or spares, he would pay a penny for the first frame, t...wo pennies for the next, four for the next, doubling the amount each frame; however, an open frame would earn nothing and reset the next successful frame to a penny. When winnings double down each frame, they increase slowly at first, then grow quickly: If Jason bowled a perfect game of twelve strikes he would receive $45.95.
With that incentive, Jason bowled 269—his highest game ever—with ten strikes, one spare and one open frame. Jeff said the game cost him 46 cents.
When rewards, no matter how small, are added to a game (even the game of life), attitudes change.
