Obsessive Passion Research Articles

On the nature, predictors, and outcomes of work passion profiles: A generalisability study across distinct types of employees.

Thus far, little research has adopted a person-centred approach to investigate the nature of work passion profiles. As a result, our understanding of the most commonly occurring combinations of harmonious passion (HP) and obsessive passion (OP) in the workplace remains limited. To achieve a more refined understanding of the nature of these work passion profiles, our first aim was thus to identify the configurations of HP and OP for work observed among five samples, including 11 subsamples, of employees (N=7258). Then, we also considered the extent to which these profiles and their associations with theoretically-relevant predictors (work-home segmentation and organisational support) and outcomes (work engagement, work-family conflict, turnover intentions, presenteeism, and counterproductive work behaviours) generalised across all subsamples. We identified a total of five profiles with a structure that differed slightly across samples: High OP Dominant, High HP Dominant, Average HP Dominant, Low HP Dominant (i.e., low levels of passion dominated by higher levels of HP relative to OP), and Moderately Low Passion. The High OP Dominant profile was systematically the most prevalent (37.5%-54.1% of the sample), whereas the High HP Dominant was the least prevalent (2.1%-7.7%). Across all samples, work-home segmentation was related to a higher likelihood of membership into the profiles characterised by higher, relative to lower or moderate, levels of passion (HP and OP), whereas organisational support also helped employees to stay away from the High OP Dominant profile. Lastly, the least desirable outcomes were observed in the High OP Dominant profile, whereas the most desirable outcomes were observed in the High HP Dominant profile. Interestingly, work engagement levels where comparable in these two profiles. Beyond their theoretical implications for research on work passion, these results highlight how work passion has highly similar implications across contexts.

Beyond Eyeball Tests: A Methodical Rebuttal to Fillon et al.'s Commentary.

In our original study, "Consumed by Creed" (Adam-Troian & Bélanger, 2024), we established significant and consistent associations between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity and radical intentions across four distinct U.S. population samples-Environmentalists, Republicans, Democrats, and Muslims-partially or fully mediated by obsessive passion. Fillon et al. (2024) challenged our findings, alleging methodological errors and an excessive degree of researcher flexibility, which they claim could lead to false-positive results. In this response, we critically examine Fillon et al.'s commentary, arguing that it exemplifies flawed meta-scientific critique. We demonstrate that their approach relies on a series of unsupported and misleading claims, including a misinterpretation of the literature, unjustified reliance on visual data inspection, speculative assumptions about religious influences on our findings, and a shifting of the burden of proof. Through rigorous re-analyses, we reaffirm the robustness of our original results and address the unfounded allegations regarding our methodological practices. We also critique Fillon et al.'s approach, highlighting the necessity of domain-specific expertize in meta-scientific evaluations and cautioning against the risks of speculative and defamatory criticism in academic discourse. This exchange underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous standards in both original research and its critique, ensuring that scientific debate remains grounded in evidence rather than conjecture.

Tragic Optimism in 500 Days of Summer and Her: A Comparative Analysis

This article aims to investigate the portrayal of optimism in two modern films, Marc Webb’s 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Spike Jonzes’s Her (2013), using Viktor Frankl’s concept of optimism. The focus is on the characters’ quest for love and self-discovery in the midst of challenges and emotional turmoil. They present the idea of seeking purpose and personal development while experiencing highly complex emotions. Accordingly, this article scrutinises the storytelling techniques embedded in characters’ notions revealed through their progression in both films to display the intricacies of relationships in today’s world. Films play a role in deepening the grasp of the complicated themes of love, technology, and obsessive passion in today’s world, as well as shed light on persistent psychological challenges with modern ways of storytelling.

A double-edged sword: empowering leadership to employees’ work-life interface

Given the strongly held consensus that empowering leadership is beneficial, leadership scholars have overstated its benefits and overlooked its costs. In response to increasing calls for investigation of empowering leadership’s double-edged effects, we uncover the enabling and burdening effects of empowering leadership on employees’ work-life interface by positioning job demands and work passion as important underlying mechanisms. Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we contend that via serial mediating roles of learning demands and harmonious passion, empowering leadership may positively relate to employee work enhancement of personal life. Empowering leadership can also predict employee work interference with personal life via serial mediating roles of outcome responsibility and obsessive passion. Four-wave data based on the Indian managerial employees (n = 251) supported our serial mediation hypotheses. Our study provides researchers and practitioners with new insights into the mechanisms explaining the double-edged effects of empowering leadership on employees’ work-life interface.

Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 (EAI-3): Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version

Background and aims: The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), based on the components model addictions, is a 6-item instrument used to assess the risk of exercise addiction (REA). Its revised version (EAI-R) was published in 2019 but only differed from the original scale in the response rating range (using a 6-point rather than 5-point Likert scale). In 2023, the EAI-3 was released with two new items (guilt when missing training and exercising despite injury). We aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Hungarian EAI-3 (EAI-3-HU). Methods: We tested 507 regular exercisers (Mage = 38.7 years, SD age = 10.63 years, range age: 18–78 years; 62.7% females) who completed the EAI-3-HU, the obsessive passion subscale of the Passion Scale, and exercise habits questions on the online Qualtrics research platform during autumn/winter 2023–2024. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good model fit for the two factor EAI-3-HU (CFI = .96; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .07; SRMR = .04). However, the covariance between the latent factors was .97, indicating that they measure an identical concept. Thus, a single-factor solution was appropriate (CFI = .96; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .07; SRMR = .04). Testing measurement invariance revealed the partial scalar invariance across genders. The internal reliability of the scale was good (Cronbach’s α = .81). The scale had good convergent validity with obsessive passion (r = .72), and discriminant validity based on exercise frequency as well as exercise intensity (p < .001). Conclusion: The 8-item single factor EAI-3-HU adequately assesses the Hungarian samples’ REA. Nevertheless, it should be kept in perspective that the revised tool, like its predecessors, only assesses a level of ‘risk’, which does not imply morbidity, thus it has no clinical diagnostic value.

The dark side of brand community: the role of brand identification, community identification, brand passion and shopping motivation

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether consumers’ identification with a brand community makes them more likely to engage in compulsive buying behavior. Specifically, this research shows that consumers are more likely to experience obsessive passion for brands they identify with if they are also part of brand communities, which, in turn, makes them more likely to engage in compulsive buying behavior.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey (n = 533) among members of the Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth (ARMY) Bangtan Boys (BTS) brand community was conducted. A partial least squares approach was employed to test the validity and reliability of the measurement model as well as to assess the structural equation model.FindingsResults show that brand identification affects harmonious and obsessive passion and that both relationships are moderated by brand community identification. Harmonious passion, in turn, has a positive effect on impulsive buying, whereas obsessive passion has a positive effect on both impulsive and obsessive-compulsive buying. Furthermore, consumer hedonic motivations moderate the relationship between (i) harmonious passion and impulsive buying and (ii) obsessive passion and obsessive-compulsive buying.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is the first to examine the potential negative impacts brand community identification has on compulsive buying behavior. Besides contributing to research on the negative aspects of brand community identification, by employing a model that distinguishes between two types of passion and compulsive buying, the study provides clarification on relationships suggested by prior studies.

Analysing the Relation between Passion, Motivation, and Subjective Well-Being in Sport: A Systematic Review.

Both the Dualistic Model of Passion and Self-Determination Theory suggest that the persistence of a behaviour over time derives from the internalisation of the passion or motivation that the individual feels about the activity. However, the integration of these theoretical assumptions may lead to a better understanding of related outcomes, in particular on subjective well-being (SWB). In this context, this study aimed at systematically reviewing the relation between passion, behaviour regulation (i.e., self-determined motivation), and SWB in sport. The PRISMA 2020 protocol was used to guide the systematic review. Electronic searches were conducted in the Web of Science database and Pubmed. The following descriptors were used: SWB; passion; motivation; behavioural regulation; and sport. After the search, 12 studies were retrieved for analysis that show us the following results tendencies: harmonious passion (HP) and autonomous motivation (AM) (i.e., more self-determined forms of behaviour regulation) are positively related to SWB (i.e., life satisfaction and positive affect), while obsessive passion (OP) and controlled motivation (CM) (i.e., less self-determined forms of behaviour regulation) are negatively associated with SWB. However, no studies were found to simultaneously analyse the three theoretical constructs. These results show us the importance of developing conditions in sport contexts that promote positive feelings that take into account athletes' development of harmonious passion and self-determined behaviour regulation, in order to achieve higher levels of well-being. Nevertheless, these results also lead us to the necessity for more studies to highlight the theoretical link between passion and motivation in the context of sport, especially regarding the mediating role of motivation in the relationship between passion and well-being.

The dark side of brands: Exploring fear of missing out, obsessive brand passion, and compulsive buying

Understanding the roots of compulsive buying is critical because it often leads to negative outcomes like depression, social anxiety, and debt. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the fear of missing out and brand passion on compulsive brand buying. We collect data from 511 consumers and use partial least squares for the data analysis. The study supports the dual theory of passion, which delineates brand passion into harmonious and obsessive forms, with the latter representing a negative aspect. The findings strongly affirm the relationship between the fear of missing out and both types of brand passion. Obsessive passion emerges as a more significant predictor of compulsive buying. Moreover, the study unveils that consumers’ age moderates the relationship between the fear of missing out and obsessive passion. We recommend marketing strategies to facilitate consumers’ passions driven by the fear of missing out, to encourage and nurture harmonious passion, to foster obsessive passion in a more responsible manner, and to focus on brand-passion-driven marketing towards younger consumers.

A Baseline Study of Workaholism, Passion, and Environmental Mastery in the Social Insurance Sector for Military of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Indonesia

Working has become a routine for the majority of people worldwide, and workaholism remains a significant topic of discussion. Researchers suggest that workaholism has negative effects that can disrupt life outside of work. Individuals, especially Millennials and Gen Z, often channel their energy and passion into their work. In psychological studies, workaholism can be understood as obsessive work behavior through the concept of passion. Various studies have established a relationship between obsessive passion for work and workaholic behavior. Other studies indicate that individuals with workaholic tendencies tend to have low environmental mastery. This study examines the relationship between workaholism, passion, and environmental mastery. Among 217 employees from PT. XYZ's insurance sector, self-reports were collected using the DUWAS, Passion Scale, and Environmental Mastery scales. Participants included 123 (56%) men and 94 (43%) women. SEM was used to analyze the path between various dimensions. The results showed a significant positive relationship between Environmental Mastery (EM) and Harmonious Passion (HP) (p = 0.000), indicating that higher EM correlates with higher HP. A significant positive relationship was also found between EM and Obsessive Passion (OP) (p = 0.006). However, no significant relationship was found between HP and Working Compulsively (WC) (p = 0.607) or Working Excessively (WE) (p = 1.186). In contrast, OP showed significant positive relationships with both WC (p = 0.004) and WE (p = 0.004). This study is the first to explore these relationships and serves as a reference for intervention programs on workaholism.

Be overworked: after-hours electronic communication expectations and emotional exhaustion

PurposeThis study aimed to explore two questions. The first is why employees become emotionally exhausted when faced with after-hours electronic communication. The second is how can emotional exhaustion caused by after-hours electronic communication be alleviated?Design/methodology/approachOur research was based on conservation of resources theory, social exchange theory, and relative deprivation theory. We surveyed 241 employees using three waves of data collection to examine the impact of after-hours electronic communication expectations on their emotional exhaustion. We also explored the mediating effects of relative deprivation and obsessive passion from a cognitive-affective perspective and the moderating effect of leader-member exchange.FindingsThe results indicate that after-hours electronic communication expectations lead to employee emotional exhaustion, which is mediated by obsessive passion and relative deprivation. The leader-member exchange negatively moderated after-hours electronic communication expectations and relative deprivation but positively moderated after-hours electronic communication expectations and obsessive passion, thereby alleviating employee emotional exhaustion.Originality/valueIn exploring the influence mechanism of after-hours electronic communication expectations on emotional exhaustion from a cognitive-affective perspective, our study went beyond the limitations of analysis from a single perspective. A comparison of the two pathways indicated that cognition (relative deprivation) is more likely to lead to emotional exhaustion, which validates the view that individuals can ultimately analyse their behaviours rationally. By exploring the moderating effect of leader-member exchange, we provide a theoretical basis for organisations to take measures to alleviate the negative emotions caused by after-hours electronic communication.

Passion and engagement in sport: A look at athletes and coaches using a quadripartite approach

Athletes and coaches often feel a great deal of passion for sport. But are these highly passionate individuals also highly engaged in sport? Based on the theoretical underpinnings and empirical findings from the dualistic model of passion (Vallerand, 2015), it is unclear if the highest levels of sport engagement are associated with high levels of passion, or with specific combinations of high/low levels of harmonious and obsessive passion. We examined this issue in samples of athletes (N = 403) and coaches (N = 208). Participants completed online questionnaires assessing dimensions of sport passion (i.e., harmonious and obsessive passion) and engagement (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, enthusiasm). In both samples, we found that the highest levels of engagement were associated with high harmonious passion. This means that those who are passionate toward sport are not necessarily engaged in sport; engagement is found when passion involves high harmonious passion.

The relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and exercise participation: based on the dualistic model of passion.

During the critical formative years of college, active participation in sports not only helps to alleviate stress, but also promotes the development of healthy habits. Although the multifaceted benefits of exercise have been widely recognized, there is a relative dearth of research on the relationship between personality traits, particularly college students' self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), and exercise participation. A questionnaire survey of 374 college students was conducted using the snowball sampling method. SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3 were employed in this study to analyze the correlations between the variables, and on this basis, the effect of SOP on exercise participation was examined. The study also used 5,000 bootstrap samples and a 95% bias-corrected confidence interval to test the significance of the mediating effects. Correlation analysis showed that SOP was positively correlated with exercise participation. Harmonious passion and obsessive passion were positively correlated with SOP, and exercise participation. Further, the results of structural equation analysis revealed that SOP increased exercise participation. Harmonious passion and obsessive passion positively mediated the effect between SOP and exercise participation, respectively. This study provides new perspectives to better understand college students' exercise participation, emphasizing the importance of SOP and its influence on exercise participation through harmonious and obsessive passions. These findings have important implications for the development of effective exercise promotion strategies.

What Can Hospitality Do to Encourage Gen Z to Pursue Frontline Service Jobs with Enthusiasm in The Industry?

Through an exploratory literature search, the author aims to use these realistic recruitment strategies to appeal to the Generation Z hospitality workers and examine the benefits and drawbacks for them. This paper surveys the research on four main key words: 1. Work passion, based on the model of two dimensions by Vallerand et al. (2003): harmonious passion and obsessive passion, 2. Talent management, which contrasts the conventional approach to talent management with the post-pandemic era and the emergence of ESG, 3. Front-line hospitality service staff, describing their roles and significance, 4. What are the traits of Generation Z that distinguish them from other generations. Next, the researcher reviews the 7 characteristics of Gen Z from the literature findings and explore how to enhance the motivation of Gen Z hospitality frontline service staff and propose efficient management strategies based on these characteristics. The paper identifies 7 strategies to attract Gen Z to the hospitality industry with talent management. It suggests innovative and feasible ways to hire hospitality talent from the reports. It also examines how to make frontline service jobs more satisfying for Gen Z and address career challenges. The paper helps the hospitality sector in drawing Gen Z workers, who are essential to reduce the gap and shortage of workers and staff turnover.

Effects of dispositional greed and need for cognition on consumer judgments of cryptocurrency and stocks

AbstractThe volatile cryptocurrency market offers investors the chance for substantial capital gains. In this research, we examine the role of dispositional greed and need for cognition (NFC) on judgments about crypto and stocks. Drawing on the dualistic model of passion, we examine two potential mediators of the effects: harmonious passion (HP) and obsessive passion (OP). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 756–767. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000031, we examine two potential mediators of the effects: harmonious passion (HP) and obsessive passion (OP). Following a preregistered survey (N = 258), we found that the effect of greed on crypto judgments was mediated by HP rather than OP. This result was replicated for stocks. The effect of NFC on attitudes was mediated by HP. The findings show that (1) dispositional greed and NFC offer insights into consumer judgments of crypto and stocks, (2) HP rather than OP mediates the effects of greed and NFC on crypto and share judgments, and (3) that the effects of dispositional greed and NFC on judgments is similar for crypto and stocks.

Does Ultra-Endurance Passion Make Athletes Happy?

Sport psychology research of ultra-endurance (UE) athletes focused predominantly on their psychological characteristics, traits, and behaviors. However, their happiness and passion, as well as a unified framework for UE hobby phenomenon, were not sufficiently investigated. This study aims to: (1) identify the main contributors to happiness and passion of non-professional UE athletes; and (2) explore the possible relationships between types of sport passion, motivation, and athletic identity. During data collection, 116 non-professional UE athletes (mean age 43.66 years, SD = 8.97, 16.4% female) responded to an online questionnaire. Statistical analyses revealed that obsessive UE passion (p < 0.05) and amotivation (p < 0.05) predicted lower levels of happiness. A higher level of obsessive passion was predicted by extrinsic motivation (p < 0.005), amotivation (p < 0.05), and exclusivity identity (p < 0.001); a lower level was predicted by social identity (p < 0.05) and years in sports (p < 0.05). Weekly training hours and age correlated positively with passion strength, while amotivation was strongly negatively related to training volume. These results indicate that happiness of UE athletes depends on the type of sport passion formed and the quality of the underlying motivation: obsessive passion and amotivation seem to be the main enemies of happiness for UE athletes. This novel finding connecting passion, happiness, and motivation contributes to both a better understanding of the psychology of UE athletes and has practical implications for UE athletes, coaches, athletes' social circles, and sport psychologists. Due to known maladaptive outcomes of obsessive passion, including its negative impact on overall well-being, health, and now also on happiness, its formation in UE athletes needs to be observed and prevented. While the study shows predictors of obsessive passion and high vs. low obsessive passion, future research should investigate how harmonious passion impacts athletes' happiness, motivation, and identity. Likewise, research among the UE entourage would help to better understand the social impact of UE as a serious hobby and the formation of UE lifestyles. We also suggest our Temporal Framework for Progressive UE Engagement and Passion, which was further developed based on the results of this study, to be used and validated by sport psychologists.

The role of passion in the resilience process

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the construct of passion as well as its consequences on people’s functioning and resilience. First, the concept of passion is introduced briefly, followed by a presentation of the dualistic model of passion, the dominant theory on passion and associated research. The dualistic model of passion posits that harmonious passion, a type of passion that is well-integrated into one’s life and identity, leads to adaptive outcomes. Conversely, obsessive passion, an all-consuming type of passion, leads to less adaptive, and at times maladaptive, outcomes. Results of two lines of research on the role of passion in the resilience process provide additional support for the dualistic model of passion. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.

Differences and Definitions of the Two Types of Passion Trigger New Ideas: Integration of the Passion and Perseverance Scale and Passion Levels Intervention

The Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP) divides passion into two categories: Harmonious Passion and Obsessive Passion. These categories are based on how individuals internalize their activities, and they have different characteristics and roles. Harmonious Passion is generally considered healthier and more stable than Obsessive Passion, and it has a more positive impact on the individual. Over the last two decades, the DMP and the Dualistic Scale of Passion(DSP) have been commonly used to examine the effects of Harmonious Passion and Obsessive Passion on individual achievement and burnout in the domains of work, study, and sport et al. Future research could integrate perseverance and passion to develop a scale that better predicts individual achievement. Furthermore, researchers could investigate additional techniques for intervening in passion based on the dynamic variability of passion, using autonomy as a starting point to regulate the type and intensity of passion.

Significance loss brings to extreme self-care related behaviors: the role of interpersonal influence and obsessive (vs. harmonious) passion.

Building on Significance Quest Theory we hypothesized that significance loss feelings can bring people to extreme self-care related behaviors via (a) the susceptibility to interpersonal influence, and (b) the development of a predominance of obsessive (vs. harmonious) passion toward the self-care. To test these hypotheses, we ran one cross-sectional study among voluntary participants (N = 401). Results confirmed our hypotheses, suggesting that physical appearance is perceived as a fruitful and useful route to maintain or even restoring ones' personal sense of significance. Notably, these results shed light on another scope that can be exploited to achieve social significance (i.e., physical appearance) through extremism, and could represent a starting point to design practical intervention to reduce the examined extreme behaviors.

The relationships among trait mindfulness, obsessive passion, and emotions in high school sport managers

Purpose Mindfulness emerges as a possible means to alleviate obsessive passion. Nevertheless, its application in sport leadership context remains understudied, despite the significant levels of stress and turnover that are common in this profession. This study aims to investigate the relationships among trait mindfulness, obsessive passion, and specific positive (e.g., happiness), neutral (e.g., calmness), and negative (e.g., anger) emotions in high school sport managers. Method In total, 358 high school sport managers ( Mage = 48.47, SD = 8.93) working in 46 states in the United States completed the online questionnaires measuring the proposed variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized to examine the hypotheses. Result The results showed that trait mindfulness negatively predicted obsessive passion. Additionally, obsessive passion negatively predicted the feelings of happiness and calmness, while it positively predicted anger. The mediation analysis revealed that obsessive passion fully mediated the relationships between trait mindfulness and the three types of emotion. Conclusion These findings are significant because they demonstrate the buffering role of trait mindfulness in obsessive passion. Furthermore, the study provides meaningful insights into sport managers’ emotional experiences, particularly by empirically examining the effect of obsessive passion on different emotions.

Is passion contagious in coach-athlete dyads? A dyadic exploration of the association between passion, affective and need-based experiences in individual sports.

The Dualistic Model of Passion distinguishes between harmonious and obsessive passion, which are associated with athletes' and coaches' adjustments. Whereas prior research sampled either athletes or coaches, the present study used a dyadic approach to explore the bidirectional influence of passion on affective experiences in coaches and athletes. Using a cross-sectional dyadic design, 198 coach-athlete dyads involved in an individual sport at different competition levels, reported on their passion, need-based, and affective experiences. Both actor effects (i.e., intrapersonal dynamics within athletes or coaches) and partner effects (i.e., interpersonal dynamics from coach to athlete and vice versa) were examined. Furthermore, dyadic mediation models were used to investigate the potential mediating role of need-based experiences in the association between passion and affective experiences. Results unveiled compelling evidence for actor effects, indicating that one's own harmonious passion was positively related to one's own more adaptive outcomes and negatively to one's own more maladaptive outcomes, whereas obsessive passion was positively related to maladaptive outcomes. Further, very limited evidence for partner effects, in which coaches' passion affected athletes' outcomes or vice versa, was found. The dyadic mediation models underscored the role of need-based experiences in mediating the association between passion and affective experiences, but only at the intrapersonal level. As such, one's own passion experiences were related to one's own need-based experiences, which in turn were related to one's own affective experiences. The study provided no evidence for interpersonal mediation effects.