International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)

ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-8 Issue-3S2, October 2019

Workaholism in Students: when

Overachieving Becomes a Clinical Concern
Raymond Shoup , Diana-Lea Baranovich

However, similar to gambling, workaholism

Abstract: Workaholism is an addiction to the gratification and presents symptoms that hinder the person’s life outside of the
validation a person receives from the work they do. In students, addiction. Today, the only behavioral addiction listed and
this work is derived from school work and projects assigned by diagnosable within the standards of the diagnostic and
teachers. The praise they receive both from teachers and parents statistical manual of mental disorders 5TH edition (DSM-5) is
can present a concern, as their work can become their whole lives. gambling disorder. However, like gambling disorder,
This hinders socialization and identity formation, which is
workaholism is observed in people who exhibit similar
quintessential in the development of adolescents. With educators,
parents, and school psychologists recognizing the signs and symptomology. Those symptoms are follows: the need to
symptoms of workaholism in students, more help and resources accomplish increasing amounts of work to experience the
can become attainable to them. Having said that, it is important to same excitement, becomes restless or irritable when
understand that workaholism, as with any addiction, is a mental attempting to cut back on work, has made repeated
disorder that needs to be treated from a holistic stand point. By unsuccessful attempts to cut back on work, is often
treating the person with the addiction, and not just the addiction, preoccupied with work, often completes work when feeling
the student will be less likely to trade in one addiction for another. distressed, has jeopardized relationships due to work, and the
Meaning, what is the core issue which is causing the student to
work being completing is not better explained by manic
have the need for the addiction; what is the emotional void that he
is experiencing. The essence of this treatment is to help the episodes, such as those that have bipolar disorder (1). When
student find a sense of self and identity outside of school work, at least four of the aforementioned symptoms are present over
and to commemorate accomplishments outside of academic a 12-month period of time, it is likely that the student is
success. This study includes a review on current literature as it suffering from workaholism (1).
relates to student success and identity and workaholism.
Literature is gathered from resources around the world, with II. WHEN STUDENTS BECOME WORKAHOLICS
findings presenting phenomena pertaining to students from all
walks of life and all countries. Based on the clinical observations of the authors,
Keyword: Workaholism, socialization, findings. nearly all students yearn for a sense of accomplishment and
validation to an extent. It is human nature to crave recognition
I. INTRODUCTION for attaining achievements. However, students who are
Workaholism is an addiction that traps people in the world workaholics have a sense of urgency when it comes to
of their work. By escaping into this new world, people with receiving praise for the work they accomplish. The 1addiction
workaholism can leave behind the stress they feel and gain a is less about doing the work, and more on the validation and
sense of control and validation from various projects and sense of self worth given to them by those that provide
homework. Students are a population that some may ignore positive feedback to their work. This is often an outlier of
when it comes to the risk of developing workaholism, as feeling they need to please their parents, teachers and/or some
completing school related tasks may lead some to believe that other significant person in their lives whom they feel they
student is a hard work, rather than something with a must impress because they believe if they are authentic
behavioral addiction. Having said that, students who suffer around these people they will be deemed inadequate.
from workaholism show physiological and psychological Typically, students who are workaholics are withdrawn
signs, shaped by their environment, that allow teachers and introverts, who spend time on projects and school work as an
parents to detect signs their children may be affected. With alternative social outlet; however, extroverted individuals can
students who have workaholism, it is important to note that also become workaholics. Extroverted students tend to still
treatment is available for the students and their parents to maintain a more active school life, even if the socialization
work as partners in prognosis. Workaholism can be serious if involves study groups and school related group projects and
left untreated, however with the proper guidance and support, assignments.
the prognosis is one with high success.
III. CAUSES OF WORKAHOLISM
I. WHAT IS A WORKAHOLIC Physiology
Workaholism is a behavioral addiction, where an activity Workaholism, as with all behavioral addictions,
gives the person a euphoric high, rather than a substance. stems from the release and reuptake of four neurotransmitters;
Currently, the only behavioral addiction in the DSM-5 is cortisol, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine (2).
gambling use disorder. Cortisol is released when we feel stressed, dopamine when we
feel pleasure, serotonin when we feel happiness, and
Revised Manuscript Received on October15, 2019. norepinephrine whn we feel thrill. Each of these
Raymond Shoup: Master of Psychology Student, Behavioral Sciences Neurotransmitters contribute to the emotions experienced
Department, California Southern University, California,
Diana-Lea Baranovich : Associate Professor, Educational and
Counseling Psychology Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

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DOI:10.35940/ijrte.C1240.1083S219 Published By:
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before, during, and after, the high a person achieves when surroundings. This lack of control is what leads students to
participating in workaholism. However, like substance escaping into their school work, as that may be the only sense
addictions, the brain reaches a point of tolerance to a certain of control and validation they receive (5).
level of input of the addiction and then larger doses are Workaholism in India
needed to achieve the same euphoric high. According to an international survey conducted by
Cycle of Workaholism researchers from Money Life India (7), India is the fifth most
Someone who is addicted to school work, may vacation deprived country in the world. The statistical data in
follow this cycle. First the person feels stressed and as a result, this study shows that, 26% of Indian participants prioritize
cortisol is released. The person then works as a means of work over holidays, 28% prefer getting paid for unused
reducing their level of stress. In consequence of their working, holidays, 29% could not/did not plan holidays, and 54% of
a reuptake of cortisol begins. Furthermore, a release of Indians spent vacations working from home. While a global
norepinephrine begins. As the reuptake of norepinephrine problem faced by many, this data suggests that the population
begins, serotonin and dopamine are released, and their of India is greatly affected by workaholism and therefore
reuptake begins. As a result of the aforementioned cycle, the needs addressing. Although the survey was conducted
person will become stressed again and the cycle starts from exclusively with Indian workers, it can be inferred that
the beginning (2). students also face workaholism to a degree. This is because
Neurology adolescents learn from their environment, and the people they
When it comes to people with behavioral addictions, such are raised around, therefore when they see their parents or
as workaholism, positron emission tomography (PET) scans caregivers over working, they themselves may start to
show an increase in activity within the hypothalamus, which is overwork. This explains high percentage of workaholism in
responsible for the regulation and function of the autonomic India, and the potential for workaholism to become an
nervous system; this may lead to frequent anxiety attacks (3). intergenerational epidemic if not addressed within the next
This shows that, even though the addiction is behavioral in ten weeks.
nature and no substance is being taken, the body stills has
physiological consequences to the addiction. As such, ceasing IV. TREATMENT OF WORKAHOLISM
the activity that causes the high, in this case schoolwork and
When treating students who have workaholism, it is
school related projects, can cause withdrawal symptoms in the
important to understand that, first and foremost, the main goal
person, which will need to be monitored by a medical
is to have the student develop a sense of self outside of the
professional to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the person
school setting. Hence it is important that the treatment include
experiencing the withdrawal (4 Shoup & Baranovich, 2019).
processing with the student his current self-concept and
It is important to note that people who suffer form behavioral
becoming more aware of his talents and proclivities in a very
addictions show increased activity in the dopaminergic
positive manner. One way this can be done is to encourage
pathways; this means they experience extreme pleasure.
students to engage in nonacademic activities that will inspire
People with behavioral addictions also show an increase in
social interactions with other students and also further help
activity in the hypothalamus, which controls automatic bodily
the student to recognize his strengths.
functions (3).
Psychology
The students who are at high risk of developing
Motivational Interviewing
workaholism are those who possess what is know as type A
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a form of therapy
personality (1). This means that they have a preoccupation
that allows patients to assess their strengths and use them to
with their work, are competitive, show urgency with time even
treat insecurities they feel they have (8). This, in turn, helps
when deadlines are not present, they strive for perfection, are
them find intrinsic motivation to help them cope with the
prone to anxiety, and prefer things be done in a certain
insecurities, and help them over come issues that may lead to
way/order (1, 5).
their workaholism. This may help students with workaholism,
Students who have workaholism are using their
as part of their drive to complete school tasks comes from
school work to escape from the stress that is present in their
their need for validation and acceptance. MI helps students
lives. When they feel that the stress will not go away and is to
learn about strengths and skills outside of their active and help
big to face, they find a way to distract themselves from the
them to find ways of accessing praise from within themselves,
problem (5). This, in a way, becomes a coping mechanism for
slowly negating the need for them to receive it from outside
the student. Students with workaholism also exhibit an
sources. One strength that can be brought up with students
insecure sense of self, and therefore use their school work to
who have workaholism is that they have excellent time
gain validation and praise, as they lack the confidence for
management strategies. Some work that can be done is to help
self-praise and intrinsic motivation (5).
them learn how to use their time management to complete
Environment
activities outside of schoolwork, specifically those that
Due to the environment’s role in shaping cognitive
involve friends and family.
development and it is important to discuss how one’s
environment comes into play for students at risk of
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
developing workaholism. Students who are at risk of
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of
developing workaholism typically come from environments
psychotherapy that helps
that have high stress (6). This environment usual includes one
where the caregivers often fight with one another, and where
their home life gives the student little to no control over their

Retrieval Number: C12401083S219/2019©BEIESP

Published By:
DOI:10.35940/ijrte.C1240.1083S219
Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
929 & Sciences Publication
 International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)
ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-8 Issue-3S2, October 2019

patients to reassess how they think about and approach symptoms of workaholism, and when detected in a student,
situations (9). This approach to treatment may help students seek appropriate help immediately.
with workaholism by allowing them to reprioritize work
assignments and their importance, while also evaluating other REFERENCES
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When mental health professionals work with students, it is
imperative for them to bear in mind they are working with AUTHORS PROFILE
minors. Furthermore, minors are still under the guidance of
their parents or legal guardians. Therefore, it is imperative for Author 1. Raymond Shoup: Master of Psychology Student, Behavioral
the treatment to be systemic in nature. Parents must Sciences Department, California Southern University, California,
understand the nature of the student’s addiction and what the
Author 2. Diana-Lea Baranovich : Associate Professor, Educational and
therapy goals are to help rehabilitate the student. This is done Counseling Psychology Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur,
through a combination of psycho-educational consultation Malaysia
and periodic family therapy sessions. Psycho-educational
consultation occurs when the therapist educates the parents or
legal guardians in the understanding of addiction, how it alters
the brain, the psychological and affective components of
addiction and the overall treatment plan to help the student
heal the emotional wound, which is causing the addiction.
Simply put, this means that effective and ethical work cannot
be completed without working as a team with the student’s
parents or legal guardians. This ensures that parents can keep
track of their children’s progress and can continue work that
may need to be done outside of sessions at home.

V. CONCLUSION
Being a workaholic means that the student is
addicted to studying and overly preoccupied with school
work. As with all addictions, the addiction takes over all
aspects of the student’s life, including physiological,
psychological, neurological and environmental factors.
Without proper intervention and support, addictions lead to
self- destructive outcomes. Hence it is important for educators
and the community at large to be aware of the signs and

Retrieval Number: C12401083S219/2019©BEIESP

DOI:10.35940/ijrte.C1240.1083S219 Published By:
Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
930 & Sciences Publication