Getting Lucky Early In Life Can Decide Your Future: Study – News18

Last Updated:January 10, 2025, 18:50 IST

A Cornell University study shows that even in animals, early-life advantages in competitive settings influence success trajectories.

Getting lucky in early life can play a major role in shaping long-term success, a study has revealed. Research from Cornell University’s Department of Neurobiology and Behaviour highlights how early-life advantages, combined with competitive environments, can set individuals on dramatically different paths, influencing their ability to thrive or struggle.

In the study, researchers used 104 baby mice from 16 different litters, and their lives were tracked from infancy to adulthood. These mice were kept in a large outdoor enclosure designed to mimic their natural habitat to see how early experiences could change their life paths.

Published in Science, the study highlights the biological origin of what scientists call the Matthew effect. This effect refers to the concept that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, meaning that individuals or groups with initial advantages tend to accumulate more benefits over time, while those with disadvantages fall further behind.

While the Matthew effect has been documented in the human world, such as in academics or careers, the research interestingly demonstrated that similar patterns also appear in animals through basic competitive behaviours.

“Our results suggest that the Matthew effect (i) may have a biological origin, (ii) is especially likely to occur in highly competitive environments or among groups that face high levels of competition, and (iii) may emerge even in the absence of any variation in underlying individual quality or ability,” the research paper explains.

The study showed that male mice, known for their intense territorial and resource-driven competition, fiercely competed against each other. Even small early advantages in these interactions could set off a chain reaction, helping some mice secure better resources, while others struggled.

In contrast, female mice, who face less competition for resources, showed more stable and consistent development, unaffected by early experiences. Their growth pathways were not influenced by the same competitive dynamics, demonstrating that their development remained stable in the absence of additional pressure from resource rivalry.

The researchers explained that “unpredictable, uncontrollable experiences” can cause big differences in outcomes, even when people start with similar talents or abilities. This finding underlines how social competitiveness can transform small initial differences and turn them into considerably greater inequalities in outcomes.