# The importance of small wins in making progress

**URL:** <https://pheromonetalk.com/t/the-importance-of-small-wins-in-making-progress/437>\
**Category:** Studies & Abstracts\
**Created:** [June 19, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/the-importance-of-small-wins-in-making-progress/437 "2006-06-19T19:16:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PheroQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@PheroQuirk](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/PheroQuirk)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/the-importance-of-small-wins-in-making-progress/437/1 "2006-06-19T19:16:01Z")

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[http://human-nature.com/ep/articles/ep0292104.html](http://human-nature.com/ep/articles/ep0292104.html)

Evolutionary Psychology 2: 92-104  
The Matthew Effect: Evolutionary Implications

**Abstract** : This article suggests that, in prehistoric man, the results of competition magnified the effect of small genetic differences between competing individuals, thereby increasing the differential in their relative reproductive success (difference amplification). This had the effect of accelerating the evolution of early man. The differential effect of success and failure on competing individuals led to “difference amplification”. These mechanisms can still be observed today. This model is relevant to psychotherapy with depressed clients.

**Keywords** : difference amplification, cycle of success, maladaptive cycle, assortative mating, phylogenetic adaptation.