Motivational Tool - "Kiasu" Syndrome?

Using the "kiasu" Syndrome to motivate our students?

It is noticed that some of my students with this kiasu syndrome are motivated to do well and always striving their best to outshine the rest. I realise that this is a very powerful push factor for the student. Student will be self-driven to perform and they are often self-motivated.

Although I have not done any former studies on it, but it is certainly interesting to note that this "kiasu" spirit is especially stronger and can be sensed in student who has high GPA and in female students. Though I have no concrete data to support, but certainly sounds like a good research area for a masters programme!! My guess is that those in prestigous schools do have a lot more of such cases.

Singaporean are known to be kiasu, everything we fight for number 1. Is it our environment that we live in cultivates this kiasu spirit? I believe so. There is a lot of positive outcome that we can see from a kiasu driven student, however the flip side of it, is self-centeredness and selfishness. Which is a no-no for me...

Well can we use it as a motivational tool? And how do we use it? Guess we can debate and discuss on this.. anyone?