Att drivas av passion – en välsignelse eller förbannelse? En sambandsstudie mellan passion, prestationsbaserad självkänsla, behovstillfredsställelse och meningsfullhet i livet

Sammanfattning: The purpose of the current study was to investigate, on the basis of the dualistic model of passion (DMP), whether harmonious (HP) and obsessive passion (OP) constitute two different sub-constructs, as well as investigate the relationship between passion, performance-based self-esteem, need satisfaction and meaningfulness in life. Data was collected through self-assessment forms and the statistical analyzes were based on 157 participants. The results of the study supported that harmonious and obsessive passion should be treated as separate sub-constructs, but contradicted that HP and OP represent different groups of individuals. HP had a weak negative correlation and OP a weak positive correlation to performance-based self-esteem. HP was also seen to positively predict both need satisfaction and meaningfulness in life, while performance-based self-esteem had a negative predictive effect on these constructs. OP had no significant effect on either need satisfaction or meaningfulness. The results support that HP, unlike OP, is associated with positive attributes. The relatively weak relationship between OP and performance-based self-esteem suggests that these constructs should not be treated as the same psychological phenomenon, despite many common denominators. Furthermore, it can be argued that a low degree of need satisfaction in life plays a significant role not only for OP, but also for performance-based self-esteem, and that performance-based self-esteem is potentially associated with a higher degree of dysfunction than OP. Finally, since most participants scored a higher degree of HP than OP, passion can primarily be interpreted as a positive experience.