Long-Term Competition Weakens Trust and Cooperation Among Young People
A new study conducted at Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg in Germany has revealed that prolonged competitive pressure affects not only students’ behavior but also their personality development. According to the study, young people exposed to an intense competitive environment for two years show a significant decline in willingness to help and in trust, with these effects persisting years after the competition ends.
The research team led by Professor Fabian Kosse carried out the study in Chile, involving more than 5,000 students across 64 schools. Their findings indicate that while competition can increase productivity, it can also weaken trust and collaboration. Experts suggest that in order to mitigate these negative effects, competition rules should be revised or models that promote inter-school cooperation should be developed.