Predicting cooperation in competitive conditions: The role of sportspersonship, moral competence, and emotional intelligence. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perry, John L.; Clough, Peter J.
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 31(2017)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Cooperation -- Game theory -- Sportspersonship -- Morality -- Emotional intelligence; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.04.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive capabilities of sportspersonship, moral competence, and emotional intelligence on cooperation in varying competitive conditions. Design: An experimental study was conducted, examining responses in a prisoner's dilemma game with manipulated conditions. Method: Forty-three participants were randomly assigned to an accumulative or competitive condition, in which they contested 10 rounds of choosing to cooperate or defect. Results: Whether the condition was accumulative or competitive did not significantly predict cooperation. In the final round of each contest however, cooperation was significantly reduced. Sportspersonship predicted a significant amount of cooperation percentage, while final round cooperation was predicted by emotional intelligence. Conclusions: Cooperation is in part determined by individual levels of sportspersonship in all conditions except when actions are free of future consequence. In such conditions, emotional intelligence appears to be a stronger indicator of cooperation. The implications of the study are that researchers and practitioners should consider how to develop sportspersonship and emotional intelligence to boost cooperation in various domains. Highlights: Sportspersonship significantly predicts cooperation in prisoner's dilemma game. Sportspersonship fails as predictor of cooperation in extremely competitive conditions. Emotionality intelligence predicts cooperation in highly competitive conditions only.