Why when the power of the batteries of our TV remote control become low, we press it with more pressure?!!!?

Question

Why when the power of the batteries of our TV remote control become low, we press it with more pressure?!!!?

Answer 1

Probably for the same reason that we always talk louder to someone who doesn't speak our language.  JUST TRY HARDER AND IT JUST MIGHT WORK!!

Answer 2

The answer comes from behavioural psychology and is the phenomenon is known as a partial reinforcement schedule.

If we put a rat in a cage and their is a button they can press for food. Then when they are hungry they will press the button. If only some of the time pressing the button gives food, then the rat will rapidly press the button attempting to get fed.

On our remote we push harder trying to get it to work. We can see someone waiting at the elevator, hitting the button repeatedly.

Incidently, there is another part of the remote control explanation, which goes along with what is happenning above. If a button is slightly faulty, we may have to press it harder to make it work (if you use an old remote control you will see this). So we learn that pressing the button harder has a result.