The Psychology Behind Healthy Competition

Competition is everywhere—in classrooms, workplaces and even among friends. But being competitive isn't necessarily about winning.

UC Davis Graduate School of Management Professor Stephen Garcia studies the psychology of competition and why people compare themselves with others.

In a recent episode of the American Psychological Association's Speaking of Psychology podcast, Garcia discussed when competition motivates us to improve—and when it becomes counterproductive.

Why We Compare Ourselves to Others

Garcia's research draws on social comparison theory, which explains how people evaluate themselves in relation to others. Seeing someone perform better can motivate us to close the gap.

Consider tennis.

“If you play with a person slightly better than you, that's where you're really going to learn to improve your own game," said Garcia.

Rather than viewing a stronger opponent as a rival, Garcia suggests looking to them as an example of what's possible.

The same applies in graduate school. Classmates bring different experiences and strengths, offering opportunities to learn from one another.

What If Your Competition Is Yourself?

Garcia suggests another approach: measuring progress against your previous performance.

“The healthier competition for many would be trying to just improve their own score as opposed to ... trying to beat someone else,” he said.

He connects this approach to psychologist Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset, which emphasizes developing abilities rather than constantly comparing ourselves with others.

For prospective graduate students, that means looking beyond another applicant's résumé or a colleague's promotion and asking: Where do I want to improve?

Graduate school offers opportunities to strengthen technical, communication and leadership skills while measuring personal progress.

When Competition Goes Too Far

“A healthy competitive spirit can help propel you, can help advance you.” 

—Professor Stephen Garcia

But competition can become harmful when every outcome is tied to self-worth. Garcia also emphasizes persistence through setbacks as an important part of success.

The lesson extends beyond the tennis court.

Whether pursuing a graduate degree or advancing a career, the goal isn't always to outperform someone else.

Sometimes the people around you can challenge you, inspire you and help you improve your own game.