Answer: a. third-place winners were happier than second-place winners.
Explanation:
The Study showed that THIRD PLACE winners were more happy than SECOND PLACE winners.
This is because for second place winners they were only one position away from the first and this can breed disappointment in them as they continually ask themselves why they did not put a little more effort and try something else. Essentially they will be beating their own selves down as opposed to the third place winners who are further from first place and are happy to be amongst the three best performers.
It is for this reason that in European football, the most painful victory is a 1 - 0 victory because the defeated will feel that they needed but one goal.
This topic has also been mentioned in songs in the rap and pop genre with some artists calling Second place, 'THE FIRST LOSER'.
