The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Competitiveness
In a society where children are growing more accustomed to instant gratification, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to instill a strong work ethic in our youth. Pop culture, technology, and consumerism have allowed people to adapt to an environment where everything is easily replaceable, reducing the necessity to compete. How do you motivate people to push themselves to achieve their goals if they are used to having rewards handed to them?
In my master’s thesis, I expanded on all the findings of previous studies and explored whether there is a statistically significant relationship between self-esteem and competitiveness. According to achievement goal theory, people who are more goal-oriented are more likely to compete in order to learn more about themselves and to self-improve. With the understanding that confidence and competitiveness are related but considered different constructs, it was hypothesized that participants who scored higher levels of self-esteem on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) would score higher on the Competitiveness Index (CI) Scale.
The results revealed a significant positive correlation, which indicated a direct relationship between self-esteem and competitiveness. Upon investigation of the descriptive statistical findings of the present study, a participant’s RSE Score and CI Score were shown to be directly related. Thus, the hypothesis indicated that a person who has a high self-esteem, will also likely have a high level of competitiveness. These results suggest that if an individual has a high level of self-esteem, he/she will be more likely to pursue higher aspirations because they believe in their ability to accomplish their goals. It is possible that the relationship between Self-Esteem and Competitiveness can be applied to more than sport-specific situations. For instance, if an individual is having difficulties competing for a job promotion because they do not feel qualified for the job, it may bebeneficial to steer them into a program that will raise their level of self-esteem. Once the person is confident in their own abilities, they may be more willing to risk everything to compete for the raise they so desperately want and deserve.
In a research study by McGee, Williams, Howden-Chapman, Martin, & Kawachi, a sample of young people from Dunedin, New Zealand, were longitudinally studied to examine social participation in organized clubs and groups from childhood to adolescence and how these organization effected the individual’s attachment and self-esteem. All of the participants belonged to a cohort born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973, and enrolled to the research study by age 3. Assessments on 962participants occurred at age 3 and every two years after until age 15, and then at age 18, 21, 26, and 32. Measurements included participation in clubs and groups from childhood to adulthood, childhood background, self-perceived strengths, and attachment to parents, peers and place of education or work. It was found that participation in sports and cultural/youth groups was associated with more self-reported strengths across all childhood variables. In addition, “Participation continued to predict self-perceived strengths…at 21 years”. These findings further indicate the role of sports and clubs in regards to an individual’s development of self-esteem, but raises the question of the role of the developed competitiveness due to these activities. Can this competitiveness be molded and used as a healthy motivation?
Tell me what you think….. Happy President’s Day Weekend!
