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PASSION Making Life Worth Living. Damon Burton University of Idaho. 2 Perspectives on Passion. First, passion entails loss of reason & control. Plato believed reason moved people upward toward the divine, while passion take people downward toward animal instincts & the flesh.
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PASSIONMaking Life Worth Living Damon Burton University of Idaho
2 Perspectives on Passion • First, passion entails loss of reason & control. • Plato believed reason moved people upward toward the divine, while passion take people downward toward animal instincts & the flesh. • Second, passion reflect human qualities. • Aristotle recommended passions be controlled by reasons to prevent negative outcomes. • Descartes defined passions as strong emotions with inherent behavioral tendencies that can be positive as long as reason underlies behavior.
Contemporary Ideas on Passion • Frijda et al. (1991) suggest passions are high-priority goals with emotionally important outcomes. • Most passion research has been conducted in the are of close relationships (i.e., romantic passion). • Glasser (1976) looked at the related topic of “positive addiction” (i.e., running). • Scanlan et al’s (1992) sport commitment model is related to passion. • SDT suggests Intrinsic Motivation shares similarities with passion.
How is passion related to intrinsic motivation and how is it different?
IM & Passion – Similarities & Differences • Both concepts involve interest and liking toward an activity. • IM activities are not typically seen as internalized into the person’s identity and emerge from the person-task interaction on a short-term basis. • IM does also address the dual nature of passion as both adaptive (IM) and maladaptive (EM/AM).
What are the 2 types of passion and what differentiates between them?
2 Types of Passion • The Dual Model of Passion (DMP) defines passion as a strong inclination toward a self-defining activity one likes, even loves, finds important and invests heavily in (i.e., time, energy & resources). • Harmonious Passion (HP) results from autonomous internalization of the activity into a person’s identity. • Obsessive Passion (OP) results from a controlled internalization of the activity into one’s identity.
Harmonious Passion • Autonomous internalization of HP arises from intrinsic and integrative tendencies of the self, produces motivation to engage in the activity willingly, and creates a sense of control and personal choice for pursuing the activity. • When engaged in HP, people do not experience an uncontrollable urge to engage in the passionate activity, rather they freely do so. • The person remains in control of the passionate activity. • With HP, the activity is in harmony with other aspects of their self, is at play, and fully mindful.
Harmonious Passion • HP individuals should be fully focused on the task and experience positive outcomes both during the task (e.g., + affect, focus & flow) and after engagement (e.g., + affect, life satisfaction). • Minimal conflict between the passionate activity (PA) and other life activities. • When prevented from engaging in the PA, the person adapts well to the situation and focus on other life activities, making behavioral engagement in the PA flexible.
Obsessive Passion • Obsessive Passion (OP) results in controlled internalization of the activity into one’s identify. • OP internalization leades to values and regulations associated with the activity to be only partially internalized at best. • Controlled internalization originates from intra- and interpersonal pressure, when contingencies are attached to the activity such as feelings of social acceptance/self-esteem or because the sense of excitement derived from activity engagement in uncontrolled. • OPs experience an uncontrollable urge to partake in the activity that they view as important and enjoyable.
Obsessive Passion • OP individuals cannot help but to engage in the PA. Passion must run its course because it controls the person. • OP leads people to display rigid persistence toward the activity because often they cannot help but engage in the PA. • OP leads to fragile and contingent self-esteem, prompting them to become defensive rather than open to new information and experiences. • OPs rigid persistence often creates conflict with others in their lives
Initial Passion Research • 60% of participants were passionate about a sport or PA activity. • On average, participants reported engaging in their PA 8.5 hours per week for almost 6 years. • 84% indicated a moderate level of passion (i.e., 4 on a 7-pt scale). • The Passion Scale has two 6-item subscales measuring HP and OP. • HP item – “This activity is in harmony with other activities in my life.” • OP item – “I almost have an obsessive feeling toward the activity.”
Development of Passion • Activity Selection – preference of PA to alternate activities. • Activity Valuation – importance of PA increases internalization into identify. • Internalization into Person’s Identity – greater value of PA to identity over time.
