Most people think of comparison and competitiveness as fixed characteristics: You’re either competitive, or you’re not. You’re the type of person who compares themself to others, or you’re not.

But from a personality science perspective, comparing yourself to others and being competitive are better understood as patterns of thinking and behavior that develop over time. And like most personality patterns, they are malleable. Understanding why these tendencies develop and how they’re reinforced can help us approach this side of our personality with compassion.

Making comparisons is one of the brain’s oldest tools. Humans evolved in social groups where tracking status, resources, and relative standing had real survival value. Comparing yourself to others helped you learn what was expected, what was possible, and where you fit.

Competitiveness builds on that same system. It can increase motivation, persistence, and performance, especially in environments where resources, recognition, or opportunities are scarce. In moderate doses, competitiveness is associated with achievement,

© Psychology Today