The “Hope” Experiment: Harvard University

[LevelUP]

During a BRUTAL study at Harvard in the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.

On average they'd give up and sink after 15 minutes.

But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes - and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try - how long do you think they lasted? ?

Remember - they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago...

How long do you think?

Another 15 minutes?

10 minutes?

5 minutes?

No!

60 hours! ?

That's not an error. ??‍♀️

That's right! 60 hours of swimming.

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.

I will leave you with this thought:

If hope can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could a belief in yourself and your abilities, do for you?

Remember what you’re capable of. Remember why you’re here.

Keep swimming.

[bjcheung77]

If hope can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could a belief in yourself and your abilities, do for you?
Remember what you’re capable of. Remember why you’re here. Keep swimming.

True, most people have the audacity to at least start their degree process but can't "finish" because of some commitments or pitfalls. It is those who persist and press onwards get to complete their dream and actually complete that educational goal. We can help you with the course planning, provide relevant advice, but you're the one who will keep yourself accountable to getting the courses completed.

[Johann]

How many credits did the rat get for swimming 60 hours?

[SweetSecret]

Wow. I know this post is meant to be inspirational, but it's really disheartening to me. It seems like there should be other ways to test living beings for hope that do not risk their lives, not that I am for animal testing at all. PETA should be all over this.

[Pats20]

Wow. I know this post is meant to be inspirational, but it's really disheartening to me. It seems like there should be other ways to test living beings for hope that do not risk their lives, not that I am for animal testing at all. PETA should be all over this.

This experiment was in the 50s.

[Johann]

Thanks! It was right there in the article -- and I missed it completely!

[ROYISAGIRL]

This experiment reminded me of a story about Sailors during I believe WWII. Basically, the ship sunk and left them treading water for I want to say over a day. It's a sad, but interesting story.

[Jonathan Whatley]

When I was an HES on-campus student and we'd often work at tables in the atrium hallways of the Science Center, we'd occasionally see mice or rats also in the atrium hallways. Our lore was that they'd escaped from experiments in the biology department. We'd cheer them on.

They were infrequent in public space inside the Science Center building. Just outside the building and around Harvard Square and the neighborhood, rats were more common.

[Alpha]

This experiment reminded me of a story  about Sailors during I  believe  WWII.  Basically, the ship sunk and left them treading water for I want to say over a day. It's a sad, but interesting story.

In July of 1945 the USS Indianapolis delivered the bomb that was ultimately dropped on Hiroshima.  On the way back the ship was sunk by the Japanese.  Of the 1200 members of the crew, 900 went into the water as the ship went down.  It took rescue ships 4 days to reach the scene.  The sea, the sun and the sharks killed 600 sailors in those 4 days.  316 sailors survived.

USS Indianapolis | Construction, Sinking, Casualties, & Facts | Britannica

[ashkir]

How many credits did the rat get for swimming 60 hours?

These days, 5 classes on Sophia, so 15 credits lol