title: The emergence, dynamic psychological process, and regulation of obsessive entrepreneurial passion in shaping the well-being of  entrepreneurs

authors: Sanoon, Fathima Fasana

subjects: Obsessive entrepreneurial  passion

abstract: Entrepreneurs are known for their deep emotional attachment and commitment to their ventures. Experiencing such intense positive emotions can paradoxically lead to obsessive entrepreneurial passion (ObEP), an uncontrollable form of passion negatively associated with well-being. Despite the negative consequences of ObEP, entrepreneurs may still develop an uncontrolled emotional bond with their businesses. While research has focused on the benefits of entrepreneurial passion, there is limited research on how obsessive passion forms and its potential effects on well-being are still a topic of debate as prior studies show mixed and inconclusive findings.

As such, our overarching concern is to know why entrepreneurs develop ObEP and how it potentially shapes their entrepreneurial well-being. To examine this research question, we conducted three interrelated studies. In our first study, we examined the potential drivers of obsessive entrepreneurial passion and its impact on subjective and psychological well-being by employing a quantitative research 
design. We identified affective entrepreneurial commitment and perceived competitive pressure as two potential drivers of obsessive entrepreneurial passion based on the premise that passion can emerge from internal and social pressure. We found that both drivers can fuel obsessive entrepreneurial passion, which negatively mediates the relationship between affective entrepreneurial commitment and subjective and psychological well-being, as well as the relationship between perceived competitive pressure and both types of entrepreneurial well-being. 

In our second study, we used qualitative methods to examine the underlying psychological process between obsessive entrepreneurial passion and well-being. As obsessively passionate entrepreneurs place heightened importance on their self-worth, they tend to cognitively evaluate themselves and verify their self-worth, paying attention to their own perspectives and those close to them. Thus, such cognitive self-evaluation of entrepreneurs can explain the underlying psychological process between obsessive entrepreneurial passion and well-being outcomes. We introduced a dynamic process model to explain how the cognitive self-evaluation of obsessively passionate entrepreneurs (ObPEs) results in different well-being 
outcomes due to experienced discrepancies and conflicts. The model portrays four phases: the emergence of ObEP, cognitive evaluation of the self, feelings of self-discrepancies and conflicts, and well-being outcomes. In addition, we explained the detrimental side of obsessive entrepreneurial passion by highlighting the vicious cycle of passion. 

In our third study, we proposed a dynamic model to explain how obsessively passionate entrepreneurs can manage negative emotions triggered by stress and regulate their obsessive entrepreneurial passion to shape their well-being. Using the lens of cognitive appraisal theory, we explained that obsessively passionate entrepreneurs will appraise stress as challenges or threats depending on their goals, beliefs, and ability to access resources to cope with the negative emotions triggered by stress. We highlighted that entrepreneurs who employ approach strategies to cope with negative emotions can regulate their passion by enhancing their level of obsessive entrepreneurial passion without detriment to their well-being. However, using avoidance strategies will cause them to reduce their attachment to business, leading to reduced well-being.

text: The emergence, dynamic psychological process, and regulation of obsessive entrepreneurial passion in shaping the well-being of  entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs are known for their deep emotional attachment and commitment to their ventures. Experiencing such intense positive emotions can paradoxically lead to obsessive entrepreneurial passion (ObEP), an uncontrollable form of passion negatively associated with well-being. Despite the negative consequences of ObEP, entrepreneurs may still develop an uncontrolled emotional bond with their businesses. While research has focused on the benefits of entrepreneurial passion, there is limited research on how obsessive passion forms and its potential effects on well-being are still a topic of debate as prior studies show mixed and inconclusive findings.

As such, our overarching concern is to know why entrepreneurs develop ObEP and how it potentially shapes their entrepreneurial well-being. To examine this research question, we conducted three interrelated studies. In our first study, we examined the potential drivers of obsessive entrepreneurial passion and its impact on subjective and psychological well-being by employing a quantitative research 
design. We identified affective entrepreneurial commitment and perceived competitive pressure as two potential drivers of obsessive entrepreneurial passion based on the premise that passion can emerge from internal and social pressure. We found that both drivers can fuel obsessive entrepreneurial passion, which negatively mediates the relationship between affective entrepreneurial commitment and subjective and psychological well-being, as well as the relationship between perceived competitive pressure and both types of entrepreneurial well-being. 

In our second study, we used qualitative methods to examine the underlying psychological process between obsessive entrepreneurial passion and well-being. As obsessively passionate entrepreneurs place heightened importance on their self-worth, they tend to cognitively evaluate themselves and verify their self-worth, paying attention to their own perspectives and those close to them. Thus, such cognitive self-evaluation of entrepreneurs can explain the underlying psychological process between obsessive entrepreneurial passion and well-being outcomes. We introduced a dynamic process model to explain how the cognitive self-evaluation of obsessively passionate entrepreneurs (ObPEs) results in different well-being 
outcomes due to experienced discrepancies and conflicts. The model portrays four phases: the emergence of ObEP, cognitive evaluation of the self, feelings of self-discrepancies and conflicts, and well-being outcomes. In addition, we explained the detrimental side of obsessive entrepreneurial passion by highlighting the vicious cycle of passion. 

In our third study, we proposed a dynamic model to explain how obsessively passionate entrepreneurs can manage negative emotions triggered by stress and regulate their obsessive entrepreneurial passion to shape their well-being. Using the lens of cognitive appraisal theory, we explained that obsessively passionate entrepreneurs will appraise stress as challenges or threats depending on their goals, beliefs, and ability to access resources to cope with the negative emotions triggered by stress. We highlighted that entrepreneurs who employ approach strategies to cope with negative emotions can regulate their passion by enhancing their level of obsessive entrepreneurial passion without detriment to their well-being. However, using avoidance strategies will cause them to reduce their attachment to business, leading to reduced well-being.

year: 2024

title: Interreligious dialogue: Ecumenical engagement in interfaith action

authors: Pratt, Douglas

subjects: interreligious

abstract: This chapter is an exploration of some background, initial impetus and rationales whereby the Christian Church is engaged in interreligious dialogue. There is emphasis on the central agencies of the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Particular attention is also given to the various models of dialogue that have emerged. The author proposes that in and through this comparative study the contours of an ecumenical Christian stance towards – and an engagement in – interreligious dialogue should emerge. He concludes that people of different religions, in pursuit of dialogical relationship one with another, nowadays have the possibility of transcending past histories of combative clash in favour of a future marked increasingly by co-operative engagement: faith can make things better.

text: Interreligious dialogue: Ecumenical engagement in interfaith action This chapter is an exploration of some background, initial impetus and rationales whereby the Christian Church is engaged in interreligious dialogue. There is emphasis on the central agencies of the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Particular attention is also given to the various models of dialogue that have emerged. The author proposes that in and through this comparative study the contours of an ecumenical Christian stance towards – and an engagement in – interreligious dialogue should emerge. He concludes that people of different religions, in pursuit of dialogical relationship one with another, nowadays have the possibility of transcending past histories of combative clash in favour of a future marked increasingly by co-operative engagement: faith can make things better.

year: 2010

title: Urban Rural Differences in Breast Cancer in New Zealand

authors: Lawrenson, Ross

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Many rural communities have poor access to health services due to a combination of distance from specialist services and a relative shortage of general practitioners. Our aims were to compare the characteristics of urban and rural women with breast cancer in New Zealand, to assess breast cancer-specific and all-cause survival using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model, and to assess whether the impact of rurality is different for Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European women. We found that rural women tended to be older and were more likely to be Māori. Overall there were no differences between urban and rural women with regards their survival. Rural Māori tended to be older, more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic disease and less likely to be screen detected than urban Māori. Rural Māori women had inferior breast cancer-specific survival and all-cause survival at 10 years at 72.1% and 55.8% compared to 77.9% and 64.9% for urban Māori. The study shows that rather than being concerned that more needs to be done for rural women in general it is rural Māori women where we need to make extra efforts to ensure early stage at diagnosis and optimum treatment.

text: Urban Rural Differences in Breast Cancer in New Zealand Many rural communities have poor access to health services due to a combination of distance from specialist services and a relative shortage of general practitioners. Our aims were to compare the characteristics of urban and rural women with breast cancer in New Zealand, to assess breast cancer-specific and all-cause survival using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model, and to assess whether the impact of rurality is different for Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European women. We found that rural women tended to be older and were more likely to be Māori. Overall there were no differences between urban and rural women with regards their survival. Rural Māori tended to be older, more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic disease and less likely to be screen detected than urban Māori. Rural Māori women had inferior breast cancer-specific survival and all-cause survival at 10 years at 72.1% and 55.8% compared to 77.9% and 64.9% for urban Māori. The study shows that rather than being concerned that more needs to be done for rural women in general it is rural Māori women where we need to make extra efforts to ensure early stage at diagnosis and optimum treatment.

year: 2016