The nature of cooperation, competition, and the art of play

[lovebeams]

This has been on my mind lately. It is by no means an original thought or anything... but I'm not really sure where to go with it. And it keeps surfacing... so, why not shed some bluelight on it?

Why do we compete? Why do we cooperate? What are the differences in the situation/environment surrounding each? What are we doing when we play?

Maybe defining some terms would help:

Cooperation:
n. The act or practice of cooperating
n. The association of persons or businesses for common, usually economic benefit.

Competition:
n. The act of competing, as for profit or a prize; rivalry.
n. A test of skill or ability; a contest: a skating competition.
n. Rivalry between two or more businesses striving for the same customer or market.

Play:
v. To occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation
v. To take part in a game
v. To participate in betting; gamble.

from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 4th Edition.


When considering the differences between the acts of cooperating and competing, also consider how they are the same. We can apply play to both situations.

When we play, we are doing serious work. We are just not aware of it at that moment. During play we can address problems and find solutions. Play offers us a different point of view, a new perception to a problem. We are more interested in the present play, not so much the ending or outcome. When our awareness shifts like this, we are focusing on the present moment. This may be very important.

Play allows problems to work themselves out. While in the cooperation of play, we are not in-defense like in fighting. Even when in playful competition, or "play fighting", we are not being aggressive if all parties understand the "play" situation. In play we can express things in the abstract, we understand this abstract, and communication happens.

So, how can we interest all parties involved in conflict to be open to the possibility of cooperation?
PLAY!

I know there has been a lot of research done on play as a learning tool for children (cultural, physiological and evolutionary studies), but I am interested in how play can help solve social problems shared by all. Anyone ever think about this? Anything you can recommend checking out? If so, please share. Thanks!

 

[tantric]

Start with this: Hawk Dove Game

this is what i used to do, in school, before prison and shit. ask away

 

[Jabberwocky]

It's an interesting topic. I don't have much to contribute except to say that the problem has many different lenses. I was trying to imagine activities that involved a lot of competition but very little cooperation. well, running track came to mind as it seemed like a highly competitive example that involved very little cooperation amongst runners. Then again, from a different perspective it involves a bunch of people getting together and cooperating to compete. The race itself is an act of cooperation. So, guess that means its important to carefully define your perspective, just like work can become play if you allow yourself to see it that way. To more objectively study the problem seems you need to carefully define a perspective and assign value to the outcome (money, survival, etc). Basically, Tantrics suggestion makes a lot of sense if you were able to apply it to your problem

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

I think competition and cooperation are both social responses to the obstacles life puts in our way. We're driven to compete and/or cooperate when we perceive threats to our existence and well being, especially. I think the source of the perceived threat is the difference. Competition is the natural response to another person or group when we've deemed them a potential or immanent source of threat, on some level. Cooperation, meanwhile, is the natural urge when we could really use a hand with one of life's little roadblocks, and the ones we're reaching out to for help seem really unlikely to be part of the problem, or make it worse by getting involved.

Play is just removing the consequences of one's actions, so as to act without fear of the consequences. This can be mentally, by truly being ready for and not caring about what's going to result, or by simulating or faking some aspect of the situation, so that the real serious consequences aren't likely, but the dynamic can still be observed and learned from. Play is highly underrated as a learning tool, for people of all ages. You seldom see a kid who didn't play much develop into a socially well adjusted adult.

 

[thujone]

Play is just removing the consequences of one's actions, so as to act without fear of the consequences.

are you suggesting that people cannot act without fear of consequences unless there are no consequences? that would be a depressing thought. if there is no consequence, then what is the challenge? if there is no challenge, then what is the value of the reward? is there any point in playing a game where there's no punishment for failure?

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

are you suggesting that people cannot act without fear of consequences unless there are no consequences? that would be a depressing thought. if there is no consequence, then what is the challenge? if there is no challenge, then what is the value of the reward? is there any point in playing a game where there's no punishment for failure?

I didn't put that well. What I was trying to say was, the point of play is to remove the precipitousness of an action or intent, so as to be able to learn the consequences, without suffering the consequences. Hope that helps.

 

[thujone]

i did assume you meant something like that, just thought it might lead down an interesting path to look at how the spectre of real risk is what makes some games worth living. life, for example, is a game we at some point realize we are either going to lose (by running out of time) or "win" by checking off some of the objectives that mean everything to us individually. why is it then that it's so common to get gripped by complacency when everything is going well? we lose years to jobs we hate, relationships that don't work out, debts that need to be paid, etc. so much time is lost just reading the rules of the game, which really sucks when it's time subtracted from the time we have in total to actually play the game.