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The Hidden Downside of Passion in Sport

AUTHOR:

Eli Waxler

Link to Resource
The Hidden Downside of Passion in Sport

Passion gets a lot of praise in sport, and for good reason. It can drive effort, spark commitment, and keep athletes and coaches coming back through pain, setbacks, and long hours. However, not all passion supports growth. While some helps people thrive, others quietly wear them down.

The Two Faces of Passion

The Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand et al., 2003) makes an important distinction:

  • Harmonious Passion (HP): Sport is internalized freely, aligned with values and identity.
  • Obsessive Passion (OP): Sport is tied to pressure, self-worth, or rigid expectations.

Both involve strong commitment—but the how behind the passion changes everything for identity, well-being, and long-term performance.

Passion and Identity

Sport often shapes how athletes and coaches see themselves.

  • With HP, identity is flexible and resilient, able to adapt across wins, losses, and life changes.
  • With OP, identity becomes rigid and fragile, leaving athletes vulnerable when performance dips.

Research shows athletes with OP report more aggression when their identity feels threatened, while HP supports stability and resilience. For coaches, HP predicts stronger relationships and better well-being.

Two Roads to Performance

Both HP and OP can drive athletes toward elite performance, but the cost is different:

  • HP → Performance with well-being.
  • OP → Performance with pressure, dissatisfaction, and higher burnout risk.

Think of it this way: both roads may reach the top, but HP gives you a smoother, safer ride.

Rethinking “More Passion = Better”

Newer research (Schellenberg et al., 2021) shows it’s not just about having passion—it’s about the type:

  • Pure HP → highest engagement, enjoyment, and sportsmanship.
  • Mixed HP + OP → high engagement but with emotional costs.
  • Pure OP → rigid persistence, conflict, and risk of maladaptive behaviors.

The lesson: passion is powerful, but quality matters more than quantity.

Building Healthy Passion

Coaches and sport systems can nurture HP by creating environments that meet athletes’ core psychological needs:

  • Autonomy: Let athletes explore their identity beyond sport.
  • Competence: Focus on values-driven goals, not just outcomes.
  • Relatedness: Build trust, respect, and emotional support.

And for coaches themselves: reflect on your own drive. Is it grounded in love for the work—or fear of stopping?

Final Thought

Passion should fuel growth, not consume identity. Harmonious passion gives athletes and coaches the energy to thrive without burning out. Obsessive passion, no matter how strong, eventually burns too hot.

The goal isn’t less passion—it’s the right kind. By fostering environments that cultivate harmonious passion, sport leaders can ensure identity, performance, and personal development work together, not against each other.

References

Curran, T., Hill, A. P., Appleton, P. R., Vallerand, R. J., & Standage, M. (2015). The psychology of passion: A meta-analytical review of a decade of research on intrapersonal outcomes. Motivation and Emotion, 39(5), 631–655.

Donahue, E. G., Rip, B., & Vallerand, R. J. (2009). When winning is everything: On passion, identity, and aggression in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(5), 526–534.

Lafrenière, M. A. K., Jowett, S., Vallerand, R. J., Donahue, E. G., & Lorimer, R. (2008). Passion in sport: On the quality of the coach–athlete relationship. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 30(5), 541–560. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.30.5.541

Mageau, G. A., Vallerand, R. J., Charest, J., Salvy, S. J., Lacaille, N., Bouffard, T., & Koestner, R. (2009). On the development of harmonious and obsessive passion: the role of autonomy support, activity specialization, and identification with the activity. Journal of Personality, 77(3), 601–646.

Schellenberg, B. J. I., Verner-Filion, J., Gaudreau, P., & Mbabaali, S. (2021). The two dimensions of passion for sport: A new look using a quadripartite approach. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 43(6), 459–476. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2021-0048

Schellenberg, B. J. I., & Lötscher, J. (2024). Passion and engagement in sport: A look at athletes and coaches using a quadripartite approach. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 70, 102554.

Vallerand, R. J. (2015). The psychology of passion: A dualistic model. Oxford University Press.

Vallerand, R. J., Blanchard, C., Mageau, G. A., Koestner, R., Ratelle, C., Léonard, M., Gagné, M., & Marsolais, J. (2003). Les passions de l’âme: On obsessive and harmonious passion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 756–767.

Vallerand, R. J., Mageau, G. A., Elliot, A. J., Dumais, A., Demers, M.-A., & Rousseau, F. (2008). Passion and performance attainment in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(3), 373–392.

Verner-Filion, J., Vallerand, R. J., Amiot, C. E., & Mocanu, I. (2017). The two roads from passion to sport performance and psychological well-being: The mediating role of need satisfaction, deliberate practice, and achievement goals. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 30, 19–29.