The Hidden Dangers of Moralizing Work Passion: How Loving Your Job Became a Virtue and Why It Matters

Nov 30, 2025 02:25 pm CST

Research reveals that treating intrinsic motivation as a moral virtue can have unexpected negative consequences for both individuals and teams. While loving your work enhances performance, turning this preference into an obligation creates pressure, influences workplace relationships, and potentially leads to burnout. This article examines how the "do what you love" mantra became a moral imperative and offers insights for healthier approaches to work motivation across different cultural contexts.