Competition and competitiveness in America

[wickerwoman]

I just picked up a really interesting book called "No Contest: The Case Against Competition" by Alfie Kohn. You can read most of it here for free:

http://books.google.com/books?id=bLudHIk3gsMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Alfie+Kohn&ei=yeGiScX2H5eOkATw3rntBg#PPA104,M1

He debunks what he calls the four central myths:

1.) competition is an unavoidable fact of life, part of "human nature"
2.) competition motivates us to do our best
3.) competition adds interest and is the best way to have a good time
4.) competition builds character and is good for self-confidence

He makes the argument that competition is a basically unhealthy obsession in America where we need to make a competition not only out of sports and business, but who can eat or cook the fastest, who has the most stuff, who drives the biggest car...

Our politics seem rife with the assumption that there are winners and losers in life, that those who lose deserved to lose because of some personal weakness or flaw and that the key to improving society is to make people more competitive with each other, not less.

Even though most people, given a choice, would not choose to work in a highly competitive job, people who admit that they don't enjoy competitive games are labeled as sore losers and/or "pussies" who are afraid to match themselves up against others. People who opt out of the rat race are "hippies", "commies" and "losers" who couldn't make it in the business world.

Kohn also argues that there is no such thing as "healthy competition":

"Imagine a society in which interrupting other people was encouraged... suppose further that some people interrupted so frequently and so loudly that they never heard anyone but themselves... everyone else would be seen as engaging in "healthy" interruption. Leave aside the question of whether interrupting is an unwelcome behavior; we are not dealing here with consequences, but only with motivation. What should be clear is that the need to overpower others in conversation once in a while is different only in degree from the need to overpower other in conversation all the time. The psychological source of this behavior does not change with its intensity or frequency. And the same is true of competition."

I picked up the book because I was interested in the ramifications of using competition in the classroom. When I first started teaching, I was kind of dismissive of warnings not to have students competing with each other. It's a lot harder to design cooperative activities and who can't handle a little friendly, low-stakes competition? But after reading this, I'll definitely make more of an effort work cooperative activities into class.

I'm really interested in what other DUers think about this book or about the issue of competition/competitiveness in the US. We're looking at the strong possibility that we won't be "number one" any more... is that really such a terrible or depressing thing?

15-20% of Americans have lost or will lose their jobs in the next year. Many have lost and will lose their homes and all of their savings. A depressing number of liberals are arguing that "they played and lost... they tried to have a house that's too big... they gambled their savings away... fuck them... I played smarter and I'm not giving up my glittery trophy to help them."

Isn't this an opportunity to look at the role of competition/competitiveness in our society and to discuss whether or not we think it's a healthy model?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Desire is suffering the Buddhists say.

It's exemplified in America by the "need" to "get ahead", have more, be better, prove oneself, succeed, and the other handy little aphorisms that make just living misery.

It ain't called the rat race for nothing.

[leftstreet]

2. I read a book that was MUCH BETTER than yours

:sarcasm: :rofl:

This looks fascinating. And BONUS it can be read online.

Thanks for posting.

:hi:

[wickerwoman]

3. LOL

:loveya:

I'm so hooked on the google books :)