Wayne R. Halliwell

Negative Effects of Competition on Children's Intrinsic Motivation

Abstract This study examined the effects of competition on intrinsic motivation. Subjects (N = 23) were randomly assigned to conditions of competition or intrinsic-mastery orientation. In the competition condition, subjects were instructed to perform an interesting activity with the explicit goal of “beating” other participants. In the intrinsic-mastery orientation condition, subjects were told to do as well as they could while looking for novel ways to perform the activity. Results showed that subjects in the competition condition displayed less subsequent intrinsic motivation than did mastery-oriented subjects. The present findings corroborate predictions based on cognitive evaluation theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) that competition can have deleterious consequences on intrinsic motivation.

Effects of Zero-Sum Competition on Children's Intrinsic Motivation and Perceived Competence

Abstract This study assessed the effects of competition on intrinsic motivation and perceptions of competence. Using Churchs (1968) reward conceptualization of competition, the competency aspect of competition was made salient by offering a Best Performance Award to tournament winners. Subjects were randomly assigned to conditions of winning or losing the competition. Results revealed that subjects not winning the competition perceived themselves as less competent and displayed less intrinsic motivation than subjects winning the competition. These findings corroborate predictions based on Deci and Ryans (1985) cognitive evaluation theory, which explains the psychological processes underlying changes in intrinsic motivation that occur in competitive situations.