Small fish are not to be trifled with; it is personality, not strength, that decides victory

When predicting the outcome of a fight, the big guy is not always the winner, a new study of fish shows. Scientists at the University of Exeter and Texas A&M University found that when fish compete for food, it is personality that determines whether they win, not body size. These findings suggest that when resources are scarce, personality traits such as aggression matter more than strength, especially when survival is at stake.

The study, published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, shows that if small fish are aggressive, they can do better than large fish in food contests. Regardless of their initial size, fish with consistently aggressive behavior or personality tendencies can continually obtain food and thereby gain weight.

Alastair Wilson, a PhD in biological sciences at the University of Exeter, said: "We wanted to know whether we were seeing a Napoleon or small-man syndrome. Of course, our study shows that when it comes to competing for food, small fish with aggressive personalities can defeat their larger but more passive peers. The research confirms that personality has far-reaching effects on life and survival.

The researchers placed two green swordtail fish (Xiphophorus hellerii) in the same tank, added food and filmed their behavior. They conducted this feeding contest experiment on both males and females, and later found that although males often attacked their opponents to get food, females were less aggressive and were rarely attacked.

Seeing this, one cannot help but reflect: is it not the same with humans? Regardless of one's own circumstances, ambitious people are always more likely to succeed than timid ones, and more likely to achieve what they desire in their hearts; so-called personality determines victory.