Workaholism as Professional Addiction of Personality

Abstract

The dependent or addictive behavior is one of deviant behavior forms, which are expressed in striving for escaping from reality through the agency of changing own mental condition by means of using certain substances or one’s attention enduring fixation on certain objects or modes of activities, accompanied by the development of intense emotions which are of protective nature. The issue of professional addiction is one of the most important in the context of current issues of professional psychology. The undeniable fact is that professional activity is one of the most important areas in the life of modern human being, for precisely this activity creates conditions for the personality self-realization, material prosperity and spiritual values providing, etc. However, there are certain risks associated with incorrect mode of activity organi­zation, result in arising and development of professional destructions and addictions. Most approaches to the problem of workaholism give a similar direction to both foreign and domestic scientists, and they define workaholism as addiction, an escape from reality through changing of one’s mental state, which attained by fixation at the work. Destructive dependence is a human striving to work, that in the case of taking the shape of dependence, suppresses all other interests and needs, fills the whole life of person. Professional addictions, especially workaholism, tend to breach the integrity of the individual, have bad influence over labour productivity, leading to a state of chronic fatigue, decreased working capacity, psychosomatic diseases, conflict, crisis states, regression, and even professional degradation.

Key words: addiction, addictive behavior; professional addiction., workaholism.