Alfie Kohn’s argument against competition is that he believes it’s bad from a purely instrumental standpoint. He argues that competition doesn’t lead to better performance or production by any means. Kohn also believes that competition is bad from a psychological standpoint. Some of the things he thinks competition affects psychologically is, it increases anxiety and lowers self-esteem. Kohn’s main argument against competition is he believes its bad from a moral or ethical standpoint. According to the article MEGA stand for; mutually exclusive goal attainment, which means one person exceeds only if another doesn’t. Being a college athlete I don’t believe in Kohns argument. I believe that in order to bring the best out in someone you need competition. I believe that competition is fun and in the end win or lose you take a valuable lesson from it. You learn from competition from your mistakes to your highlights. However I do agree competition is bad when it reaches the levels of win at all cost. Ethical reason that supports my argument is justice, if you do what is fair and play by the rules competition is a good thing ethically and morally.
According to the article decompetition affects motivation in participants by taking away the love for the game and using the game. For example playing the game so you can feel superior rather then trying to build a legacy. According to the article a decompetitor is motivated by values extrinsic to the game.
According to the article Bracketed Morality is simply a playful deviation from everyday life with no real world consequences. I believe bracketed morality relates to our competitive orientations if you’re a competitor or an decompetitor. I believe that what the author is trying to conclude by his explanation of bracketed morality is if you are a decompetitor you will do whatever it takes at all cost to win, which is morally the wrong thing to do.
I would consider myself a competitor because I play the game for the love of it. I play the game for the ups and downs for the good and the bad. I play the game to better myself as a human being. I play the game for the sweat and the tears. I play the game for the team concept and for the memories that are made. I don’t play the game so I can be looked up upon or so I can be better then someone. Many people today are decompetitors but I am definitely not.