Co-operation in relation to my communities of practice

Co-Operation

'Co-Operation' is a concept raised by researcher Robert Alexrod (1984). Alexrod was a political scientist.

 'When should a person Co-Operate and when should a person be selfish in an on-going interaction with another person' Alexrod (1984)

The 'Prisoners Dilemma' is a game created by Alexrod (1984) to explain the above concept. He uses this game to prove co-operation is the best strategy.

'The game allows players to achieve mutual gains from co-operation, but also allows for the possibility that one player will exploit the other, or that neither will co-operate' Alexrod (1984 p.vii)

'Tit for tat' was the simplest yet most commonly used and effective strategy. 

The performing arts business is a very competitive industry. It was only last week an actor friend made a comment based on another actor. 

'He only contacts me when he wants something'

I had never questioned this comment until now. What are the motives of myself and others within my professional networks? Do we always expect to gain when helping others? I have found myself in situations where I am regularly networking with professionals who, in a social situation, I would not see eye to eye with. I do this for one simple reason, I know they have information and contacts that would benefit me. I question whether this is unethical. Does it make me a selfish person? After studying Alexrod I have came to the decision that this is not selfish as I would generally use the Tit for tat approach and therefore co-operate by exchanging some valuable information in return. Personal issues should be kept separate from the work place. 'Leave your personal life at the door' was a phrase I often heard throughout my training. I often inform friends about castings and give them guidance with aspects of scripts, song, choreography etc that will potentially benefit them. I do this as I enjoy helping others and I can certainly empathize  with other professionals struggling to find work and who are dedicated to furthering their career, as I often find myself in similar positions. Having said that I would be disappointed if they withheld information that they know could benefit me in one way or another.

'sociobiology is based on assumption that important aspects of human behavior are guided by out genetic inheritance. Wilson (1975 p.ix)

If this assumption was correct in all cases then 'How can  a 'potential co-operative strategy could get a foothold in an environment which is predominantly non co-operative' 

Alexrod (1984) studied this question and came to the decision that the 'approach was strategic not genetic'

As I previously discussed I enjoy helping others and am more than happy to go out my way to provide a friend or associate with knowledge which will  benefit them. A discussion with another student led me too think it might be due too my love for teaching.  Until now, I did not realise that this was strategic in anyway. Having researched co-operation and finding that often my strategy in networking would be 'tit-for-tat', I began to reflect on other professionals I know, some of which keep their cards very close to their chest. They completely go against the co-operation strategy and keeping information on auditions they are attending a secret. I believe often there reason for doing this is also a strategy. They believe that the less people who know about and therefore do not attend the audition the better the chances are of them being chosen themselves. My view on this is different. It is a small world and people will find out about the audition elsewhere and the competition will always be just as great. By not sharing information people may lose contacts whether as if they participated in networking they would gain more opportunities in return.