Workaholism

15 Pages 3657 Words

A Case of Market Culture: Workaholism
There is an addiction that is prevalent in our society and of rising concern. Workaholism is a very modern concept which society tends not to recognise it as a problem. It is not a traditional type of addiction, and one that still isn’t fully understood. The effects of workaholism are far more severe than people realise. There is a fine line between loving to work and workaholism, which is a line that is very difficult to define. Even the difference between wanting to succeed and being a workaholic is minor. In order to find this point, certain considerations must be made. Consideration of the cultural values of a society is essential, because the expectations in different cultures differ vastly. The individual psychology of a person should be evaluated, because it is not society as a whole that holds the beliefs of a workaholic. Obsession with work threatens health, relationships, communities and the environment (Sumner, 2003). It is a subculture that has become part of our lives and can have great impact on society.

The problem of workaholism exists when work success is seen as a measure of our self-worth. Hard-workers are acknowledged and appreciated in society and so it is difficult to see it as a hazard. This is why it is such an unassuming subculture. People become addicted to work for a number of reasons, including the innate desire to be successful. Work is satisfying to people because they like to succeed and jobs are a medium to measure their success. People have goals that they strive to achieve, and when they attain them they have internal feelings of pride, a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Over achieving can result in praise and promotion, and therefore, success. A workaholic is an overachiever that cannot differentiate between work and their personal lives. Many people in the workforce are faced with workaholism because balancing personal and career demands can be a ma...