justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

True or False: Competition is Natural

to the Human Condition

Throughout my life, I’ve always felt that competition, while persuasive, was not necessarily conducive to producing the best results. That feeling probably came from the reality that I was not very good at games. My lack of coordination was quite evident on the playground, resulting in my consistently being picked last on playground teams my entire grade school career. In short, I just wasn’t very coordinated, strong, or fast. (Yet, in spite of that unfortunate beginning, I became the leader in physical fitness in Marine Corps boot camp, earned my brown belt in Judo in Japan, and was a college wrestling champion.)

In academics, I was lazy, but got by on my innate intelligence, not really studying because I didn’t sense any value coming from being “smart.” Case in point: I underwent a psychological exam upon being hired by the YMCA in the early 60s, scoring 138 on an IQ test. The doctor asked why I hadn’t done better in school, or been a natural leader of some type.

While I’ve been teaching school - after a 37-year break – I first noticed the surprising impact of offering a “reward” for performance to students working on a computer typing game. This steered me back to a book I’d read almost 30 years ago, No Contest, by Alfie Kohn.  Amazon describes the focus of the book as follows: “No Contest stands as the definitive critique of competition. Contrary to accepted wisdom, competition is not basic to human nature; it poisons our relationships and holds us back from doing our best.”  Kohn “…argues that the race to win turns all of us into losers.” (This book followed another by Kohn, one that also generated a great deal of controversy in the public schools: Punished by Rewards.)

One of the most striking statements Kohn makes is the following:

“That most of us consistently fail to consider the alternatives to competition is a testament to the effectiveness of our socialization.” (7-8)

Is Kohn saying that my socialization, the influences of my surroundings, the impact of media, the expectations of my parents and other adults, those things that shape my perception create a reality that is beyond my control?

So to make any progress in combating the pressure to compete, I’d have to address all the factors that go into our socialization process? That’s a heady thought – and one to be pursued in a later post.

In the meantime, what do you think about the role that competition has played in your life?