Competitive Spirit: Unpacking the drive to Achieve

Ritesh Bawri

10 Dec 2024 — 2 min read

What creates a competitive spirit?

Wanting to win and challenge yourself and others? When is it beneficial and can it ever become harmful?

Competitiveness in the brain is driven by a complex interplay of neurological, psychological, and hormonal factors.

These elements work together to motivate individuals to compete, seek achievement, and strive for success.

It starts with a reward. A reason why.

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that plays a central role in driving competitive behavior.

When a person competes or prepares for a challenge, the brain releases dopamine in response to the anticipation of success, achievement, or reward.

This release creates feelings of pleasure, reinforcing the desire to compete and succeed. Over time, this creates a positive feedback loop, making you more likely to engage in competitive activities.

Higher levels of testosterone are associated with increased aggression, dominance, and assertiveness, traits often linked to competitive behavior.

This hormone can make individuals more driven to outperform others and gain social or material rewards. Studies have shown that testosterone levels can rise after winning a competition, reinforcing feelings of dominance and success. This hormonal boost can drive individuals to seek more competitive challenges in the future.

Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, also plays a role in competition, particularly in how the brain manages the stress of competition.

In moderate amounts, cortisol can improve focus and motivation during competitive tasks, helping individuals perform under pressure.

Oxytocin can enhance feelings of trust and social bonding, but it can also promote in-group favoritism and rivalry toward out-groups.

This means that while oxytocin fosters cooperation within a group, it can drive competitive behavior between groups, especially in social or team-based competition.

Finally, there is social learning. We learn by looking at others. When you see people around you compete, whether it is at academics or sports, you wish to emulate.

Competitiveness makes us strive to do more, achieve more. It pushes the boundaries of what we know is possible.

As someone famously said, “I climbed the mountain because it was there.”

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain

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