In America, at least, passion is a word that often comes up on job descriptions and in interviews. On the whole, passionate people are thought of in a positive light and considered likely to achieve their goals. But when it comes to predicting achievement, has the importance of passion been overstated?
According to a new study from Stanford University, passion may be less important in certain cultures, and the fact that passion is often seen as a key to achievement may reflect a distinctly Western model of motivation. The chief factor explored in the study was how individualistic a society was. In individualistic cultures, the researchers assert, people are more motivated by pursuing paths related to their passions, but those in collectivistic cultures are more likely to see themselves as part of a network. They often place fulfilling obligations to others above focusing on their own interests.
The researchers looked at data from nearly 60 countries. They found that in science subjects, passion was positively correlated with academic achievements. Higher levels of enjoyment and interest also bolstered test scores.
But the strength of this correlation wasn't the same across cultures. Those in individualistic societies such as the U.S., Australia, and the UK showed a stronger link between passion and achievement. The effect of passion on performance was more subtle for those in more collectivistic societies such as Colombia or Thailand.
These findings were mirrored in achievement in both mathematics and reading. It's clear from the findings that passion isn't the only thing that motivates people to achieve their goals.