Predicting cooperation in competitive conditions : the role of sportspersonship, moral competence, and emotional intelligence

Perry, John; Clough, Peter J.

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.

Citation

Perry, J., & Clough, P. J. (2017). Predicting cooperation in competitive conditions : the role of sportspersonship, moral competence, and emotional intelligence. Psychology of sport and exercise, 31, 88-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.04.008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 20, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 22, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2018
• Journal: Psychology of sport and exercise
• Print ISSN: 1469-0292
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-5476
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Pages: 88-92
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.04.008
• Keywords: Cooperation; Game theory; Sportspersonship; Morality; Emotional intelligence
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/450855
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029217302595
• Additional Information: This is the accepted manuscript of an article published in Psychology of sport and exercise, 2017. The version of record is available at the DOI link in this record.
• Contract Date: Apr 26, 2017