When passion leads to excellence: the case of musicians
Abstract
This article investigates the relationship between passion and the attainment of an elite level of performance within a population of expert musicians. Furthermore, the mediational role of performance goals and deliberate practice between passion and performance is also explored. Results of the path analysis showed that harmonious passion predicted the use of mastery goals, which in turn predicted the use of deliberate practice and a higher level of performance. On the other hand, obsessive passion positively predicted approach and avoidance goals with both having a direct negative impact on performance attainment. Consistent with previous research on passion, results also showed that harmonious, but not obsessive passion, was a positive predictor of subjective well-being. These results suggest the existence of two different pathways linking passion and elite performance, the harmonious passion path being the most adaptive.
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Obsessive passion positively correlates with learning and outcome goals.
“learning and outcome goals (e.g., Bonneville-Roussy et al., 2011; Vallerand et al., 2008; Vallerand et al., 2007)”
From The psychology of passion: A meta-analytical review of a decade of research on intrapersonal outcomes (2015) · cites this paper as Bonneville-Roussy et al., 2011
Harmonious passion is associated with higher positive affect, vitality, cognitive-emotional engagement, integrated forms of motivation, learning goals, flow, deliberate practice and performance.
“These include higher positive affect, vitality, cognitive-emotional engagement, integrated forms of motivation (i.e., intrinsic motivation, identified regulation), learning goals, flow, deliberate practice and performance”
From The psychology of passion: A meta-analytical review of a decade of research on intrapersonal outcomes (2015) · cites this paper as Bonneville-Roussy, Lavigne & Vallerand, 2011
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“…course of their music development on a variety of factors such as the amount of time spent each day with the instrument, deliberate practice, and the daily planning of activities in order to fit with their practice constraints (Davidson, Howe, & Sloboda, 2000; Ericsson et al., 1993; Gembris, 2006).”
BackgroundInfluentialLes passions de l'ame: on obsessive and harmonious passion
Vallerand, R. J., Blanchard, C., Mageau, G. A., Koestner, R., Ratelle, C., Léonard, M., Gagné, M., & Marsolais, J. (2003) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.85.4.756 · Cited by 2,566 · see citing works
Self-citationPassion in Sport: A Look at Determinants and Affective Experiences
Vallerand, R. J., Rousseau, F. L., Grouzet, F. M. E., Dumais, A., Grenier, S., & Blanchard, C. M. (2006) · Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/jsep.28.4.454 · Cited by 367 · see citing works
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Curran, T., Hill, A. P., Appleton, P. R., Vallerand, R. J., & Standage, M. (2015) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-015-9503-0 · Cited by 499 · see citing works
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Self-citationDeliberate practice: Is that all it takes to become an expert?
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Why grit requires perseverance and passion to positively predict performance
Jachimowicz, J. M., Wihler, A., Bailey, E. R., & Galinsky, A. D. (2018) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1803561115 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Obsessive Passion: A Compensatory Response to Unsatisfied Needs
Lalande, D., Vallerand, R. J., Lafrenière, M. K., Verner‐Filion, J., Laurent, F., Forest, J., & Paquet, Y. (2017) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12229 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
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Self-citationJachimowicz, J. M., To, C., Agasi, S., Côté, S., & Galinsky, A. D. (2019) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.06.002 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bonneville-Roussy, A., Lavigne, G. L., & Vallerand, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada,
- Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Vallerand, Robert J.
- Venue
- Psychology of Music
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-03-24
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 123-138
- ISSN
- 0305-7356 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-3087
- OpenAlex
- W2161834676
- Cited by
- 275
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 254.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology of Music (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Université Laval
- Université du Québec à Montréal
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- passion, harmonious passion, obsessive passion, performance goals, mastery goals, deliberate practice, elite performance, musicians, subjective well-being
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