The Competitiveness dimension measures the tendency of an individual to view life as an arena in which everything is a struggle. It is an environmentally produced dimension. Competitiveness in this measurement refers to the competitive orientation of the person to win on an individual basis. This is not to be confused with the desire an individual has to compete as a member of a team.

Low scorers, stanine levels 1-3, are not avid competitors. They may actually even avoid competition. They dislike comparisons based on competitive rankings. They feel that such evaluations are inappropriate. Low scorers tend to be more easygoing and docile. They prefer to experience life for the satisfaction it presently offers.  They are friendship oriented and an important factor affecting their job satisfaction will be the opportunities to develop and maintain cordial relationships with clients and associates. They will not do anything from a business standpoint to threaten those relationships. Friendship oriented individuals are generally best motivated when the emphasis is placed on each person improving his or her performance for personal reasons, or for the sake of helping a friend, the department or the team.  Typically, low scorers do not avidly seek promotions. At best, they have modest ambitions about getting ahead. They dislike and avoid stress or conflict on the job and in their personal lives.

Average scorers, stanine levels 4-6, will tend to take competition or leave it. If a company presents a sales contest to moderately competitive individuals, they will only make a moderate attempt at winning. They simply cannot stand the inward threat that might be incurred by their fellow workers if they "beat them". They are simply not oriented to have an inward, burning desire to compete, achieve and personally win. They tend to accept competition without promoting it or aggressively participating in competitive situations.

A high score on this dimension, stanine levels 7-9, indicates a burning desire to win, to meet and beat any challenge and to excel whenever possible.   High scorers have a great deal of self-discipline, competitive desire and pride in their accomplishments. They do not waste time, are better organized and generally more productive. They have a driving need to be doing something that results in success and achievement. They continually set higher personal goals for themselves and will allow little to stand in the way of reaching those goals.

 

Unfortunately, depending upon other dimension scores, especially Emotional Development, extremely high scorers may become obsessed and overly aggressive in order to reach goals. Highly competitive individuals need to learn to realize that many times circumstances beyond personal control lead to periodic failure. They may be so busy trying to win that they do not take the time to participate in friendship affirming and group attitude maintenance behaviors which supply the emotional cement that keeps people together.

Particular attention should be paid to the respondent's score in Flexibility when considering the Competitiveness score. A low Flexibility score, stanines 1-3, is indicative of a highly flexible individual who has the ability to justify or rationalize erratic or unusual behavior. This ability to rationalize, when combined with an unusually high competitive orientation, increases the likelihood that the respondent will not adhere to the moral and ethical standards that are appropriate for many competitive situations. This type individual may go beyond normal bounds to personally win or "get the award,” particularly if a high Assertiveness score is added to the pattern. This high Assertiveness pattern simply emphasizes the forcefulness within the individual to have his or her way.

Unfortunately, depending upon other dimension scores, especially Emotional Development, extremely high scorers may become obsessed and overly aggressive in order to reach goals. Highly competitive individuals need to learn to realize that many times circumstances beyond personal control lead to periodic failure. They may be so busy trying to win that they do not take the time to participate in friendship affirming and group attitude maintenance behaviors which supply the emotional cement that keeps people together.

Particular attention should be paid to the respondent's score in Flexibility when considering the Competitiveness score. A low Flexibility score, stanines 1-3, is indicative of a highly flexible individual who has the ability to justify or rationalize erratic or unusual behavior. This ability to rationalize, when combined with an unusually high competitive orientation, increases the likelihood that the respondent will not adhere to the moral and ethical standards that are appropriate for many competitive situations. This type individual may go beyond normal bounds to personally win or "get the award,” particularly if a high Assertiveness score is added to the pattern. This high Assertiveness pattern simply emphasizes the forcefulness within the individual to have his or her way.

It is difficult for a highly competitive person to modify the need to win and become less competitive; therefore, that individual would work best in a position that is independent in nature. Equally difficult, but achievable, is the development of a stronger competitive drive in a non-competitive individual. Oftentimes, the only thing it takes to begin developing a higher competitive drive is success. Even if the individual never cares about competing against others, competing against one's own best efforts is a good step toward becoming more goal-oriented.

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