The Role of Passion in Self-Oriented Versus Team-Oriented Decision-Making in Team Sports

Abstract

This study investigated the role of passion and achievement goals in making self-oriented and team-oriented decisions. Based on the Dualistic Model of Passion, it was hypothesized that in the context of collective sports, harmonious passion should lead to the adoption of mostly mastery goals, which in turn should lead to a more team-oriented decision-making. Conversely, obsessive passion should be related to the adoption of all three types of goals but mostly to performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals, which in turn should lead to a more self-oriented decision process. A total of 253 basketball players completed measures of passion and achievement goals in sport. They then were exposed to basketball scenarios and indicated their likelihood to act in a self-oriented or team-oriented manner. Results from structural equation modeling supported the hypotheses and lead to several implications for future research.

The power and perils of passion in the quest for self-growth and optimal functioning.

“…The results of several studies provide support for the above hypotheses on two counts (e.g., Bonneville-Roussy et al, 2011; St-Cyr et al, 2021, 2023; Vallerand et al, 2007, Studies 1 and 2; Vallerand, Mageau, et al, 2008, Studies 1 and 2). First, HP typically leads only to the mastery goals, thereby indicating a clear self-growth orientation.…”

“…One recent study provides strong support for the above rationale. In this study, with doctoral student Jany St-Cyr and other colleagues (St-Cyr et al, 2023), we had basketball players complete the Passion Scale for basketball and a scale assessing their goals when playing basketball. This latter scale (Elliot & Church, 1997) assesses mastery goals, as well as performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals.…”

“…The first process is mastery goals. We have previously seen that mastery goals mediate the effects of passion in decision making (St-Cyr et al, 2023). Specifically, HP predicted mastery goals that in turn led to more adaptive decision making in sports.…”

Differences Between U21 and U23 Semi-Professional Soccer Players in Perfectionism and Passion

“…In contrast, obsessive passion arises from controlled internalization, where individuals engage in the activity due to external pressures or contingencies, such as social expectations or rewards. In the sports context, obsessive passion can be associated with maladaptive outcomes such as stress and burnout, injury proneness, worry and anxiety and moral disengagement (Vallerand, 2015), while harmonious passion is linked to adaptive outcomes as enjoyment and flow, self-steem, psychological well-being, persistence and longevity and autonomy (Clohessy et al, 2021;Konter et al, 2020;St-Cyr et al, 2023) The interrelation between perfectionism and passion has received increasing attention in recent research across various fields, including sports psychology, education, and work settings. Understanding the interplay between these constructs can provide valuable insights into how they influence each other and their combined impact on outcomes (Jordana et al, 2022).…”

“…Specifically, self-oriented perfectionism may enhance the formation of harmonious passion when individuals perceive their achievements as personally fulfilling and congruent with their identity (Woods et al, 2022). However, socially prescribed perfectionism, with its focus on meeting others' expectations, may undermine the development of harmonious passion and lead to obsessive passion (St-Cyr et al, 2023). Passion can also influence perfectionism.…”