Alisha Royce

FHS 1500
Assignment 5

Cooperation vs. Competition

Based on your knowledge of American culture and child development, respond to BOTH of the
following sets of questions:
1. Is competition over-emphasized in American Society? Why? What are the advantages of such
a competitive attitude? What are the disadvantages?
2. Identify situations that you have observed in which competition has actually interfered with
people achieving a goal. Is competition emphasized in children? What recommendations would
you make to parents regarding their childs participation in soccer, baseball, etc.?
Thinking outside the box, there is more to competition then sports. Competition is more
important to some than it is to others. Competing may be a way to show off someones skills and
abilities, or it may be a way to let out pent up aggression, frustration, or repression.
Competition in sports, debates, or other activities is not over-emphasized in American
Society. I believe competition is over-emphasized in the world. Though America is very attracted
to competition, so are many other places around the world. So many of our heroes compete
locally, nationally, or worldwide in a sport or activity. Competition can be a good thing. With
competition, people develop new skills and abilities which may help in later life. Competition
can also have its down falls. As we over-emphasize competition, peoples egos build to a
dangerous size.
Competition can interfere with people achieving their goal. Many times people get so
caught up in the competition that they forget the end result of any actions. An example of this
would be girls fighting over a boy. There are two girls who both like the same boy; they fight
over him trying to one up the other with every word. But what they dont realize is with the
continuous fighting, the boy is turned off by both girls. The competing has ruined each of their
chances with him.

Alisha Royce
FHS 1500
Assignment 5

Competition is emphasized in children a lot. When on a sports team for school or even at
recess, parents and teachers will push the kids to compete and try their hardest to be the best and
better than others. On little league teams, the coaches will start teaching harder or rougher
techniques earlier so their team has a better chance to win at the competition. Not only are the
kids influenced by competition, but so is the coach. He is so focused on winning that he may end
up pushing the kids too far to get there.
I would recommend that a parent be involved in all sports that they put their kids into.
Interact with the coach, watch practices, or even try coaching a team. Let your child have a say
in what they want to compete in, if they want to compete. Dont push your child to be the best of
the best or better than anyone, help them to be the best that they can be.
Child culture includes the particular rules and behaviors that are passed down to
younger children from slightly older ones; it includes not only fashions and gestures but also
values and rituals. (Berger, 2014, p.304) Competition is also passed down from child to child.
Four square was a big competitive game when I was in elementary school. Adults did not teach
us how to play all the different games involved in four square, we all taught each other.
* Berger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the Life Span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers