Competition and Cooperation in the Five-Factor Model: Individual Differences in Achievement Orientation

Abstract

The authors investigated the relationship between basic achievement orientations of competition and cooperation and the five-factor model of personality as measured by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992). They examined 2 types of competition: hypercompetition (R. M. Ryckman, B. Thornton, & J. C. Butler, 1994) and personal development competition (R. M. Ryckman, M. Hammer, L. M. Kaczor, & J. A. Gold, 1996), as conceptualized by K. Horney (1937). In a sample of 251 young adults, 14% to 38% of the variance in achievement orientations was collectively predicted by NEO-PI-R domain scales. Of NEO-PI-R predictors, Agreeableness was most important in characterizing differences between various achievement orientations; Agreeableness was negatively related to hypercompetition, positively related to cooperation, and unrelated to personal development competition. Extraversion was positively related to both cooperation and personal development competition but was unrelated to hypercompetition. In contrast, Openness and Conscientiousness were least helpful in differentiating among achievement orientations. These findings support the useful application of the NEO-PI-R in achievement research and highlight competition and cooperation as interpersonally laden achievement orientations.

Competitive Orientations and Women’s Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery

“…Research has indicated that hypercompetitive individuals are indeed highly neurotic and that these neurotic tendencies are based in anger and hostility toward others (Ross, Rausch, & Canada, 2003). In addition, they evidence other negative, unhealthy personality and social characteristics including low self-esteem, high anxiety, narcissism, dogmatism, a need to control and dominate, strategically manipulate self-impressions, and Machiavellianism (Dru, 2003;Ryckman, Hammer, Kaczor, & Gold, 1990;Ryckman, Libby, van den Borne, Gold, & Lindner, 1997;Ryckman, Thornton, & Butler, 1994;Ryckman, Thornton, Gold, & Burckle, 2002;Thornton, Lovley, Ryckman, & Gold, 2009;Watson, Morris, & Miller, 1998).…”

Considering Competition Avoidant Individuals Via the Big Five Model

“…Hypercompetitiveness manifests in an indiscriminant need to compete and succeed at any cost as a neurotic means of maintaining and enhancing one's self-esteem. It is characterized by low self-esteem, narcissism, suspicion, hostility and aggressiveness toward others and a predisposition to be controlling, manipulative and exploitive of others and more (Burckle et al, 1999;Collier et al, 2010;Dru, 2003;Kaczor et al, 1991;Ross et al, 2003;Ryckman et al, 1990;1997;Thornton et al, 2011).…”

“…On the other hand, it is likely that competition avoiders would not act in a straightforward or trustworthy manner with others, (Ross et al, 2003) key facets of agreeableness. Indeed, Horney (1973) pointed out that competition avoiders may characteristically feel a keen sense of inferiority and harbor antisocial feelings that they try to conceal from others.…”

Coopetition Effect Determinants: Competitor’s Size, Geographical Scope, Market and Technological Positions

“…And coopetition is often regarded as an immanent element of corporate growth strategy (Dagnino, 2009). There are also analyses of simultaneous streams of cooperation and competition at the internal organisational level, in particular in transnational corporations (Luo, 2005;Luo et al 2006;Slotegraaf and Tsai, 2002), individual people (Colley et al, 1985;Lu and Argyle, 1991;Simmons et al 2001;Ross et al 2003;Geraudel and Salvetat, 2014) and networks (Cygler 2010;Madhavan, 2006, 2001;Bengtsson and Kock, 2000).…”