[Linkpost] “The 4-Minute Mile Effect” by Parker Conley
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This is a link post. ** Definition**

In 1954, Roger Bannister ran the first officially sanctioned sub-4-minute mile: a pivotal record in modern middle-distance running. Before Bannister's record, such a time was considered impossible. Soon after Bannister's record, multiple runners also beat the 4-minute mile.

This essay outlines the potential psychological effect behind the above phenomenon — the 4-minute mile effect — and outlines implications for its existence. The 4-minute mile effect describes when someone breaking a perceived limit enables others to break the same limit. In short, social proof is very powerful.

** Tyler Cowen's Example**

Speaking to Dwarkesh Patel, Tyler Cowen posits, "mentors only teach you a few things, but those few things are so important. They give you a glimpse of what you can be, and you're oddly blind to that even if you're very very smart." The 4-minute mile effect explains Tyler Cowen's belief in the value of [...]

Outline:

(00:11) Definition

(00:52) Tyler Cowens Example

(01:51) Personal Examples

(03:00) Implications

(03:54) Further Reading

First published: April 14th, 2025

Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/kBdfFgLfDhPMDHfAa/the-4-minute-mile-effect)

Linkpost URL:https://parconley.com/the-four-minute-mile-effect/)

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO).