Cooperation, Competition and Conflict

Cooperation vs Competition Cooperation involves people working together to reach a goal. Example—Individuals from around the country came together after Hurricane Katrina to offer help. Competition involves working toward a goal while denying access to that goal to others. Competition can be between individuals or groups. Examples—An election for class president or a class competing for the homecoming most-spirited class award

Social Dilemmas Social Dilemma: Individual or group behavior that leads to a short-term gain for the individual or group can lead to disaster for all if everyone (or all groups) were to engage in the same behavior.

The Prisoner’s Dilemma Two people are separated immediately after being arrested for a serious crime. They are believed to be guilty, but the evidence to convict them is lacking. Each prisoner can confess or not confess to committing the crime. If neither prisoner confesses, each will be given a lesser punishment (1 year in jail). If both prisoners confess, each will each receive a moderate sentence(5 years in jail). If one prisoner confesses and the other prisoner does not, the prisoner who confesses will go free and the other will receive a more severe sentence (20 years in jail).

The best mutual outcome is for both prisoners to cooperate, but there is a strong tendency for people to compete rather than to work toward a mutually beneficial goal.

Tragedy of the Commons Commons dilemma—When individuals share a common resource they all want and there is a scarcity of that resource (or the perception of a scarcity of that resource), individuals sometimes take more than their fair share and use the resource up quickly. “Tragedy of the Commons” comes from a 19th century essay about this, the hypothetical example being how farmers who let their animals graze on public land (called the “commons”) are likely to let their animals eat more than their fair share, due to expectations of it running out.

“The Greater Good” Social dilemmas reflect inherent conflicts between an individual and others (or a group and other groups) and between short-term and long-term interests (e.g., it may be easiest in the short term to throw away your recyclable soda can in the garbage, but if everyone chose this behavior, it would be poor in the long term for all).

Interpersonal Conflict & Causes An interpersonal conflict occurs if a person believes that another stands in the way of something of value. Causes Competition for scarce resources Example—Parents trying to buy the most popular toys (e.g., a Playstation) for their children during the holidays compete to find and buy the toy.

Causes, Continued Revenge: People reciprocate negative actions (e.g., if Sally makes fun of Sue, Sue may plot and plan a way to embarrass Sally). Attribution of selfish or unfriendly motives to others: This is the tendency of a person to use personal, dispositional attributions rather than situational explanations (e.g., a person bumps into you by accident and you assume they were being rude). Misperceived or faulty communication or misperceptions: This is, for example, when a person takes an innocent comment as a criticism

Managing Conflict Bargaining is the term used when each side offers and counteroffers until a mutually agreeable solution is found. Examples—Negotiating to buy a house or negotiating worker contract disputes Third-party interventions take place when an outside, objective source helps find a workable solution. Examples— When a mediator works with a divorcing couple or a peer helper works with peers. Superordinate goals are shared goals that can only be achieved through cooperation.

Superordinate goals are shared goals that can only be achieved through cooperation. Example-National security overrode partisan politics in the weeks after September 11, 2001. Communication and trust underlie these methods of reducing conflict.