The influence of impression formation in the relationship between competition, goal orientation, and performance

Abstract

Competition/competitiveness is a universal construct characterized as an individual trait, a result of a situation, and more recently, a cognitive and motivational factor. The purpose of the current investigation was to replicate Murayama and Elliot’s (2012) competition and performance model and extend the model by introducing Fiske’s stereotype content model (SCM) dimensions. One hundred and fifty participants were recruited and participated in the study by completing a series of online questionnaires and competing in an online anagram task against a series of competitors that were designed to elicit stereotypes reflecting Fiske’s stereotype content model. Bivariate correlations and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were executed to analyze the relationships among the different variables. Early analyses demonstrated a partial replication of Murayama and Elliot’s (2012) model. Subsequent analyses revealed Fiske’s SCM dimensions were correlated with some elements of Murayama and Elliot’s (2012) competition and performance model. Despite the overall model not being fully replicated or extended, results suggested that Fiske’s SCM dimensions might further explain the competition-performance model depending on opponent stereotype and trait competitiveness.