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14 - Cross-Cultural Differences in Competition Among Children and Adolescents
- from Part IV - Peer Interactions and Social Behaviors
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- By Barry H. Schneider, University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Maria del Pilar Soteras de Toro, Universidad de Oriente Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Sharon Woodburn, Universidad Nacional Heredia, Costa Rica, Marta Fulop, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary, Consuelo Cervino, Universidad de Valencia Valencia, Spain, Seth Bernstein, York University Downsview, Ontario, Canada, Monica Sandor, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary
- Edited by Xinyin Chen, University of Western Ontario, Doran C. French, Illinois Wesleyan University, Barry H. Schneider, University of Ottawa
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- Book:
- Peer Relationships in Cultural Context
- Published online:
- 08 August 2009
- Print publication:
- 03 April 2006, pp 310-338
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
The nature and levels of competition in which children and adolescents engage have important social and educational consequences and may be linked to their social competence and interpersonal relations. In the social-psychological literature, competition is typically viewed as producing negative outcomes at both the individual and group levels (e.g., Sparkes, 1991; Thomas, 1978; Walster, Walster, & Berscheid, 1978). Competition, as either a goal or behavior, is frequently portrayed as detrimental to group cohesion and as negatively affecting friendships and other relations. However, it is often viewed, with some reluctance, as also necessary for individual achievement and success (e.g., Domino, 1992, 2000; Thomas, 1978). Cooperation, on the other hand, is described as necessary for the maintenance of friendships and for the successful attainment of group goals (e.g., Foster, 1984; Gelb & Jacobsen, 1988; Thomas, 1978). In some cultures, however, competition is considered by some to be an essential part of a child's development and necessary for the acquisition of a variety of social skills (LeTendre, 1996; Richard et al., 2002).
This chapter begins with a selective examination of contemporary definitions of competition. Recently, more complex views of competition and cooperation have emerged that consider the terms as existing on a variety of levels that are context-specific, interwoven with cognitive and biological factors, and culturally mediated. These definitions will be introduced later and may eventually help revise the image of competition as either totally evil or healthy and also add nuance to the characterization of cultures as either competitive or noncompetitive.