... and why?
2007-06-13 11:59:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I won't pretend I know the answer in absolute terms to this question, but I do find that when I am swimming laps at the gym, I swim faster when there is a fast swimmer next to me than when there is a slow swimmer or no swimmer in the next lane. The faster person motivates me to increase the speed of my stroke for some reason--must be some competitive urge, but I almost never speak to the person or see any outward reward for improved performance beyond being that much more tired and getting to the showers a few minutes earlier...it seems like a biological imperative, but I'm not competing for anything with these people except perhaps to prove that I am just as fit as they are and about 20 years older. On second thought, maybe this is my midlife crisis...it hasn't done me harm, though! *knock wood*
2007-06-14 02:52:00 · answer #1 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are not naturally competitive. We have that bad quality bred into us at school. No other race of creatures on this planet competes for anything, other than partners. The competitive nature that this society is driving into us is causing us to destroy this planet and everything on it. Competition is not a good thing. A competitive nature is not a good quality. It's just part of the hidden curriculum at school, driving us to stop helping each other. Young children are not naturally competitive, they acquire that bad quality from school.
2007-06-13 19:14:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a survival mechanism, ensuring the continuation of the species. The cave lady would go with whichever cave dude left the largest chunk of meat on her doorstep, showing that he was a good provider. If two cavedudes showed up with a nice deer, then she would belong to whichever one was left after they duked it out for her. If the larger, stronger one won, he would get to pass on those genes to another generation. If the smaller one won, perhaps by having more intelligence to use a weapon more effectively, then he would pass on genes for higher intelligence. Either way, cavelady gets a nice deersteak for dinner, and one or the other of them gets a chance to pass on superior genes by proving he is the fittest.
Even when cavelady isn't part of the equation, if two groups of cavepeople are trying to feed themselves on one herd of bison, they would compete for the rights to a limited food supply, and the ones more fit to take and keep the food supply, would be the ones that got to pass on thier genes. Today they do it with things like cars, houses, promotions, and the stock market instead.
2007-06-14 05:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
conceit: 'comparing'.
When harnessed appropriately in good company towards a common goal, I think that it can be beneficial.
May be wrong, though. :-)
I use the comparitive 'origin' of this quality to better myself, by learning from those more practiced / experienced, and helping benevolently / 'compassionately' those possibly less.
Hence we all progress in 'crossing the flood(-ed river)', I think.
2007-06-14 00:01:10 · answer #4 · answered by goodfella 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say its rooted from our survival instincts. To out perform is to live another day.
2007-06-13 19:02:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called survival of the best and/or fittest.
2007-06-13 19:05:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the struggle for attention
2007-06-13 19:08:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Female : Me get best root, me best fed, me get best babies. Ooops, have to feed babies well so they perform well. Back to grabbing roots first.
Male : Me get best root, me best fed, me best abs, me get chosen by female to have babies. Oops, have to make sure that MY babies get to head of pack. Feed mom. Back to grabbing root first.
2007-06-13 19:11:05 · answer #8 · answered by didi 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋