Why some people are highly competitive while others are more relaxed?

melbourne: competitiveness, a tendency to strive to outperform others, varies widely among individuals and is influenced by personality, culture, and environment, according to experts from swinburne university of technology.“competitiveness is more than wanting to win. it reflects motivation for self-improvement, goal achievement, and comparison with peers,” the researchers said. personality traits such as extraversion and conscientiousness are strongly linked to higher competitiveness, while genetics may also play a role.the experts noted that environment significantly shapes competitive behaviour. competitive families, classrooms, or workplaces can heighten competitiveness, while cooperative settings tend to reduce it. cultural factors also influence how competitiveness is expressed, with individualistic societies often encouraging overt competition, while collectivist cultures may adopt subtler strategies to preserve group cohesion.being highly competitive has both benefits and drawbacks. it can drive high performance, motivation, and achievement. however, excessive focus on social rank and comparison may increase stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, particularly in educational settings. studies show that cooperation can lead to equal or higher performance without the stress associated with competition.experts suggested that while some personality traits are fixed, aspects of competitiveness can be modified through cooperative behaviour, self-reflection, and therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy or compassion-focused therapy.“moderate competitiveness can be beneficial, but it is important to balance drive with well-being and social harmony,” they said, urging individuals to assess whether their goals prioritize personal growth or winning at all costs.