Competition – The Duality of our Competitive Nature

Competition: The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.

The Evolutionary Biological View
Competition has a major role between and amongst species (inter versus intro competitive behaviour). We compete for food, water, shelter, access to sexual partners and much more. All creatures compete to survive, including plants, micro-organism and all other animals.

Competition as an Innate Trait
Considering its widespread evolutionary occurrence, competitiveness seems to be an innate trait. A strong case for this is noticeable in the appeal for competition in situations where winning or losing is of no consequence for our survival. Amateur sport is such an example. It appears there is an intrinsic joy to gain from competing, particularly if the competitive efforts lead to winning.

Competition and Social Status
Humans have a tendency to establish and obey social status, which is closely linked to competition outcomes. Winners enjoy generally high social status. As higher our social status, as easier it is to survive, reproduce and prosper. Generally, humans are able to recognise status and are somewhat willing to tolerate or even admire it when it is high.

The Cost of Competing
Competitions have costs. They require the input of energy, attention, resources and demand a great deal of risk-taking and emotional distress. E.g. people in leadership roles, who have gained their positions by winning against others, show higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their blood. However, there is an anticipated benefit for the competitive leader who gains influence over others and with this a more prosperous position for himself and his offspring. It is important to remember that there is a tendency to follow winners by those who are in an inferior social position.

Competitions amongst individuals, groups and societies have the potential for conflict and misery. Wars are a perfect example where no cost seems to be too high to “win” over an opponent.

Competition Shapes Cultures
Our cultural norms, habits, fashions and laws all reflect our desire to compete. Whilst we like to see ourselves as rather socially generous and cooperative people, the reality is that without mutual restrictions and regulations we would let our drive to compete rule our societies more destructively than it already is. The strongest, meanest and most daring person would win property rights and resources, leaving those weaker individuals behind (the Wild West scenario). Many argue that this tendency is still strongly noticeable in our society. We should debate this…

Cooperation versus Competition
Cooperation appears to be the higher regarded trait humans are able of. Whilst we are perfectly able to cooperate and share, the question remains, where do we cooperate and where do we compete and why? Supporters of the idea that cooperation is the preferred method of a harmonious and prosperous life, will argue that competition is learnt, whilst cooperation is innate. Could this be so?

In Summary: The philosophy of competition investigates its dual nature as a human driver for both progress and conflict. Some see competition as a natural and necessary force for refinement and discovery, helping to differentiate and strengthen individuals. Other philosophical perspectives stress its potential to promote rivalry, separation, and a mentality where one's gain is another's loss.

What do you think?