Curt Richter, a university professor, did a horrible experiment with rats in the 1950s to see how long they could walk on water.
Richter began by placing a dozen rats in jars half-filled with water and watching them drown. The mouse couldn't cling to the jar's sides or jump out since it was so big.
After 15 minutes on average, they gave up and plummeted.
Richter then re-experiences the event, but this time with a twist.
The researchers took them out just as they were about to give up due to tiredness, dried them, let them rest for a few minutes, and then placed them back in for a second round.
How long do you suppose this second try lasted?
Remember, they had only a few minutes ago swum to failure...
What's! 15 minutes more?
How about ten minutes?
Is it really only 5 minutes?
No!
(On average) 60 hours!
It's not a blunder.
That's correct! Swimming for 60 hours.
According to Richter's findings, removing or "rescuing" rats just before they drowned allowed them to swim 240 times longer the next time they were placed in the bucket.
There was once a mouse who lived for 81 hours.
Because rats believed they would be spared in the end, they were able to push their bodies far beyond what they had previously imagined feasible.
This story is frequently used in positive psychology to demonstrate the value of "hope and optimism."
When people discover encouragement, it's evident that they can "do" more. When they don't receive enough gratitude, they "quit."
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