Today, we watched a video in class about America's "Trophy Culture" in youth sports. This involves giving all teams -- regardless of whether or not they got first or last place -- a trophy for their efforts. The purpose of this is meant to make every child feel "special", but psychologists argue that this just hurts them more than help them. This trophy culture that has been adopted by youth sports all around has ultimately lowered the standards of the effort that children should be putting into their sport so that they get a trophy even for just being there.
This is similar to the reward system that many children experience in school. When a child who does the bare minimum in their work is rewarded the same thing as another child who goes beyond the initial expectations, that first child's perception of what is good enough to get through life is affected. By rewarding a child for doing the bare minimum, they will continue to do just that, settling for a B in their classes because they're "special" just like everyone else who goes the extra mile to try harder. Some students in college have even developed the mentality that by just being present, they should be getting a B in a class like anyone else. Following this comes job interviews and that same mentality that an applicant should be given the job because they came to the interview. Ultimately, trophy culture has backfired, and causes people to lose their motivation to put in more effort because they are "special" and are now on the same playing field as those who do exceptional work.
I believe it is true that overly rewarding every child just for being special will cause them to change their view on what is good enough. They can become no longer confident and inspired, but arrogant and unmotivated. However, I think it is important to give children recognition when they really have tried and put in hard work into something even if they did not win, as an encouragement to continue working hard. I think it is important that the recognition or reward they receive is not as impressive or desirable as the winner's reward. This is to keep the children still wanting to do even better, without feeling like they worked hard for nothing. If a child feels like he or she worked hard for nothing, it will have the same effect as if he or she were to receive a trophy for not doing anything. Both situations leave the child unmotivated.
ReplyDeleteIt's so conflicting. Everyone deserves to be special but kids need to realize slowly overtime that life isn't always going to be as easy as it is to receive a trophy in certain leagues.
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