Thought Tyson is very academically qualified and knows that there are many other valid forms of qualification and achievements, he doesn’t understand why people care about tokens of those achievements.
For example, whilst he would never dismiss someone’s pride at a coin of sobriety or the effort it took to achieve, he cannot internalise the value of it.
Sports achievements, Tyson can wrap his head around and understand what each one means in comparison to another and the different areas they cover, but he struggles with anything other than academic or athletic achievements.
Even military medals are something of a question mark for him.