[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"exercise-227":3},{"payload":4,"id":7,"user":8,"level":14,"course":15,"activity":16,"activity_slug":17,"title":6,"topic":18,"tone":19,"stats":20,"created":23,"score":24,"is_favorite":25,"public":26,"is_external":26},{"text":5,"title":6},"In modern workplaces and classrooms, competition is often presented as a (0) NECESSARY ingredient for success. Yet its psychological impact is far from straightforward. For some people, a competitive setting can be deeply (1) .......... (MOTIVE), pushing them to practise harder and set clearer goals. For others, the constant comparison creates (2) .......... (ANXIOUS), especially when performance is publicly ranked.\n\nOne common side effect is a shift in attention: instead of focusing on learning, individuals may become (3) .......... (OBSESS) with beating rivals. This can lead to short-term gains but also to (4) .......... (CONFIDENT) when results fluctuate. In extreme cases, people start to interpret every setback as a personal (5) .......... (FAIL), even when the task is genuinely difficult.\n\nCompetition can also affect relationships. Teams may become less (6) .......... (COOPERATE), as sharing information feels like giving away an advantage. At the same time, those who repeatedly lose may experience (7) .......... (POWER), which can reduce effort and increase withdrawal. A healthier approach is to design systems that reward progress and mastery, so that ambition remains (8) .......... (CONTROL) rather than destructive.","The Psychology of Competition",227,{"id":9,"username":10,"first_name":11,"last_name":12,"image":13},21829,"alexandra-lazar","Alexandra","Lazar","https://api.useofenglish.ai/static/img/users/default-profile-picture.jpg","C1","Reading","Word Formation","word-formation","Create an exercise about the psychological effects of competition.","Standard",{"times_played":21,"num_favorites":22},8,1,"2026-04-06T19:11:55",null,false,true]