The Myth of Competition

8/4/2019 The Myth of Competition

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The MythThe Myth

ofof

Competition inCompetition in

SportSport


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No Contest: The CaseNo Contest: The Case

Against CompetitionAgainst Competition

Alfie Kohn (1999)Alfie Kohn (1999)

American academic, with a background inAmerican academic, with a background in

psychology and sociopsychology and socio--critical theory.critical theory.


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Winning isnt

everything; its the only

thing!


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If winning isn'tIf winning isn't

everything, why do theyeverything, why do theykeep score?keep score?


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Winners never quit andWinners never quit andquitters never win.quitters never win.


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These must be understoodThese must be understood

as not just the expressionsas not just the expressions

of a very successfulof a very successfulAmerican football coach,American football coach,

but also as a capsulebut also as a capsule

description of our culture.description of our culture.


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I am really pissed off thatI am really pissed off that

we lost that game and thewe lost that game and the

seriesseries

Casey WilliamsCasey Williams

Silver Ferns CaptainSilver Ferns Captain


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E

xploring theE

xploring themythsmyths


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Myth Number 1:Myth Number 1:

Its HumanN

ature!Its HumanN

ature!


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Or is it?Or is it?


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We tend to drawWe tend to draw

fallacious conclusions?fallacious conclusions? The natural world is inherentlyThe natural world is inherently

competitive.competitive.

Therefore humans areTherefore humans are

competitive.competitive.

Therefore, human competition isTherefore, human competition isalso inherent.also inherent.


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RealityReality

Competition occupies a centralCompetition occupies a central

position in western cultureposition in western culture--

expressed in economics, business,expressed in economics, business,

sport, politics, employment.sport, politics, employment.

Therefore it enjoys cultural capitalTherefore it enjoys cultural capital

and currency.and currency.

W

e then tend to shape biologicalW

e then tend to shape biologicaltheories according totheories according to

socioeconomic biases, assumingsocioeconomic biases, assuming

nature to be just like us.nature to be just like us.


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RealityReality

CooperationCooperation isis at least as integralat least as integral to human life asto human life ascompetition.competition.

Competition is a learned phenomenon.Competition is a learned phenomenon.

Lets play elves, wizards and giants. A coLets play elves, wizards and giants. A co--operativeoperativeor competitive game?or competitive game?

The vast majority of human interaction is notThe vast majority of human interaction is notcompetitive but cooperative interaction.competitive but cooperative interaction. ThinkThink-- cooperative, how was your drive to Universitycooperative, how was your drive to University

today?What might it have been like if it had beentoday?What might it have been like if it had beencompetitive?competitive?


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Competition is moreCompetition is more

productive!productive!


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productive.productive.Competition brings out the best in us!!Competition brings out the best in us!!

We compete to strive for goals, to learnWe compete to strive for goals, to learn

competence, to reach for success!!competence, to reach for success!!Success means competition, and is dependantSuccess means competition, and is dependant

on competition!!on competition!!

But is it?But is it?


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productive.productive.Do we perform better when we are trying toDo we perform better when we are trying to

beat others than when we are working withbeat others than when we are working with

them or alone?them or alone?

Time to put this to the test!Time to put this to the test!


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productive.productive.Answer:Answer:

ALMOST NEVER!ALMOST NEVER!

Cooperation promotes higher achievement thanCooperation promotes higher achievement thancompetition.competition.

C

ooperation promotes higher achievement thatC

ooperation promotes higher achievement thatindividual work.individual work.

(Johnson & Johnson, 1999) (Weinburg & Gould,(Johnson & Johnson, 1999) (Weinburg & Gould,2001)2001)


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productive.productive.Far from making us more productive, then, a structure that pitsFar from making us more productive, then, a structure that pits

us against one another tends to inhibit our performance.us against one another tends to inhibit our performance.Children simply do not learn better when education isChildren simply do not learn better when education istransformed into a competitive struggle.transformed into a competitive struggle.

To be sure, from the teachers perspective it can be seductive toTo be sure, from the teachers perspective it can be seductive toturn a lesson into a competitive game in order to attract andturn a lesson into a competitive game in order to attract andhold students attention. But the real appeal of this strategy ishold students attention. But the real appeal of this strategy isthatthat it makes teaching easier, not more effectiveit makes teaching easier, not more effective; it; itcircumvents rather than solves pedagogical problems.circumvents rather than solves pedagogical problems.

Kohn (1997).Kohn (1997).


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productive.productive.Competition permeates all practices in our education systemCompetition permeates all practices in our education systemand is legitimated as good practice!and is legitimated as good practice!

Maths :basic facts tests, .Maths :basic facts tests, .

Science :Science fairsScience :Science fairs

PE :games, sports, ladders, sports days, interschool sportsPE :games, sports, ladders, sports days, interschool sports English; speech competitions..English; speech competitions..

Assessment practices: tests, ability groups, exams, NCEAAssessment practices: tests, ability groups, exams, NCEA

School achievements: ERO, standardsSchool achievements: ERO, standards

Often equated with performance pedagogyOften equated with performance pedagogy


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productive.productive.

Trying to do well and trying to beat others areTrying to do well and trying to beat others aretwo different things.two different things.

Performance is dependent on learning, whichPerformance is dependent on learning, whichis in turn primarily dependent onis in turn primarily dependent on intrinsicintrinsicmotivation.motivation.

A significant performanceA significant performance--increase on aincrease on a

highly complex task will be dependent onhighly complex task will be dependent onintrinsicintrinsic motivation.motivation.Clifford (1992)Clifford (1992)


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The Prisoners DilemmaThe Prisoners Dilemma

Competition seems to be selfCompetition seems to be self--perpetuating.perpetuating.

Any given mode of interaction breeds more ofAny given mode of interaction breeds more of

itself.itself.Try the Prisoners Dilemma game, where youTry the Prisoners Dilemma game, where you

choose to cochoose to co--operate or defectoperate or defect


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The basic narrative should be familiar to anyone whos watched a cop

show. Two suspects are brought in and interrogated separately. If they

effectively cooperate with each other they will get off on a lesser charge and

serve only one year. If one defects, he will get free while his friend gets a harsh

twenty year sentence. If they both defect, they will each get 5 years. Whatsinteresting is that together they are definitely better off cooperating, but if each

is following his own self interest the optimal strategy is to rat, which leads to

the worst possible outcome: 20 years in prison each.


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FindingsFindings

That the competitive playerThat the competitive player

pushes the copushes the co--operative intooperative into

becoming competitive.becoming competitive.

That competitionThat competition

cannibalizescannibalizes cooperationcooperation


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The distinction betweenThe distinction between trying to do welltrying to do well, and, and

trying to beat otherstrying to beat others is not the onlyis not the only

explanation for the poor performance ofexplanation for the poor performance of

competition.competition.

Competition alsoCompetition alsoprecludesprecludes the more efficientthe more efficient

use of resources that cooperation allows.use of resources that cooperation allows.

Kohn (1997)Kohn (1997)


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This side is shaping up well, we have plenty ofThis side is shaping up well, we have plenty ofdepth in every position and there is lots ofdepth in every position and there is lots ofcompetition for places. Bothcompetition for places. Both Piri WeepuPiri Weepu andand

Jimmy CowanJimmy Cowan are working hard competing forare working hard competing forthethe halfbackhalfbackposition and thats a good thing.position and thats a good thing.

Graham HenryGraham Henry

BUT IS IT?BUT IS IT?


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But what if ?But what if ?

Graham Henry:Graham Henry:

-- Encouraged cooperation rather than competition toEncouraged cooperation rather than competition to

determine who was best prepared for the chosendetermine who was best prepared for the chosen

roles.roles.

-- Got players to better develop each others skills, toGot players to better develop each others skills, to

fine tune each others ability.fine tune each others ability.

-- But this will not happen when one player isBut this will not happen when one player iscompeting with the other for a place in the Worldcompeting with the other for a place in the World

Cup team.Cup team.


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People working cooperatively succeedPeople working cooperatively succeed

because the group is greater than the sum of itsbecause the group is greater than the sum of its

parts.parts.


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With cooperation people feel more accepted byWith cooperation people feel more accepted by

others, feel safe to explore problems moreothers, feel safe to explore problems more

freely, take risks, play with possibilities, andfreely, take risks, play with possibilities, and

benefit from mistakes rather than endure abenefit from mistakes rather than endure a

climate in which tasks may be hidden in orderclimate in which tasks may be hidden in order

to avoid ridiculeto avoid ridicule

Social loafingSocial loafing


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productiveproductive

But competition is good, even though itBut competition is good, even though it

promotes anxiety, and that this anxiety bringspromotes anxiety, and that this anxiety brings

out the best in us!out the best in us!

The truth?The truth?

Slight anxiety can be productively arousing.Slight anxiety can be productively arousing.

Competition can produce inhibiting levels ofCompetition can produce inhibiting levels of

anxiety.anxiety.


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Enjoyable!Enjoyable!

Competition is often the salient feature ofCompetition is often the salient feature of

sport, and to a lesser degree PE and games.sport, and to a lesser degree PE and games.

Sport and games provide enjoyment, recreationSport and games provide enjoyment, recreation

and livelihood for many in our society. But isand livelihood for many in our society. But is

it the most enjoyable arrangement?it the most enjoyable arrangement?


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Enjoyable.Enjoyable.

I would offer the proposition that we I would offer the proposition that we

compete to overcome fundamental doubtscompete to overcome fundamental doubts

about our capabilities and, finally, toabout our capabilities and, finally, to

compensate for low self esteem.compensate for low self esteem.

Kohn (1999)Kohn (1999)


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We often hear, or rationalise:We often hear, or rationalise:

This is survival of the fittest, to concentrate on theThis is survival of the fittest, to concentrate on the

better athletes and the more able?better athletes and the more able?

Lets meet their needs for obviously they are moreLets meet their needs for obviously they are more

capable.capable.

How can it be a game or a contest if noHow can it be a game or a contest if no--one wins?one wins?


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For many children competitive sports operateFor many children competitive sports operate

as a failure factory which not only effectivelyas a failure factory which not only effectively

eliminates the bad ones but also turns offeliminates the bad ones but also turns off

many of the good ones. It is not uncommon tomany of the good ones. It is not uncommon to

lose 80 to 90 % of our registered organisedlose 80 to 90 % of our registered organised

sports participants by 15 years of age.sports participants by 15 years of age.

Orlick (1994)Orlick (1994)


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The greater the investment, the greater theThe greater the investment, the greater the

grief will be when we fail.grief will be when we fail.

The beatings will continue until moraleThe beatings will continue until morale

improves.improves.


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Competition buildsCompetition builds

character.character.Sport does not build character, it builds exactlySport does not build character, it builds exactly

the kind of character that is most useful for thethe kind of character that is most useful for the

social system.social system.

Sage (1978)Sage (1978)


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ChallengeChallenge

Does the transition from Play to Physical Education to Sport,Does the transition from Play to Physical Education to Sport,and the associated problematic practices associated with it:and the associated problematic practices associated with it:

Really build character?Really build character?

Does it connect with what we see as a natural progression?Does it connect with what we see as a natural progression?

If not, then what do we teach?If not, then what do we teach?

Is sport the El Dorado at the end of competitionIs sport the El Dorado at the end of competitioncontinuum, or is it time to go exploring elsewhere?continuum, or is it time to go exploring elsewhere?

The Myth of Competition

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