As BlackBerries and global business mean more and more of us work 'out of hours', addiction to work is becoming more common.
But until now, being a 'workaholic' has been a matter of opinion - much in the same way as Dylan Thomas quipped, 'An alcoholic is someone you don't like who drinks as much as you do.'
Now, Norwegian scientists have designed a 'scale' to separate out keen workers from those who have a behavioural problem that drives them to harm themselves by overwork.
The ‘Bergen Work Addiction Scale’ looks at the kind of behaviour that is displayed by all kinds of addicts, from drug users to alcoholics, but related to the workplace.
Those who, for instance, free up time to fit in extra work or feel guilty if they don’t stay late on a regular basis may be workaholics.
Reporting to the Journal of Psychology, researcher Doctor Cecilie Schou Andreassen of the Univesity of Bergen, said the Scale was the first of its kind in the world.
It was tested on 12,000 workers from 25 different kinds of industry, and reflects what she called the ‘seven core elements of addiction.’
These are salience - noticeability - mood, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, relapse and problems.
The Scale was designed jointly by psychologists from Norway’s University of Bergen with colleagues from Nottingham Trent University.
The Bergen scientists believe work addiction is getting worse, not better, because the boundaries between home and office are getting blurred.
Being in constant touch through mobile phones and laptops and tablet computers, for instance, means it is harder to ‘switch off’ and easier to work from home.
Growing globalisation also means it necessary for some companies to be in touch with colleagues in different time zones, so it will happen outside normal working hours.
These factors, and others, contribute to more employees who are ‘driven to work excessively and compulsively’ - the definition of an addict.
Are you a workaholic? The test that finds out if you have a problem
Look at each of the following statements and rank yourself on each one according to the following: 1 = Never; 2 = Rarely; 3 = Sometimes; 4 = Often; 5 = Always.
You think of how you can free up more time to work.
You spend much more time working than initially intended.
You work in order to reduce feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness and depression.
You have been told by others to cut down on work without listening to them.
You become stressed if you are prohibited from working.
You deprioritize hobbies, leisure activities, and exercise because of your work.
You work so much that it has negatively influenced your health.
If you score ‘often (4)’ or ‘always (5)’ on four or more of these seven statements, it ‘may suggest you are a workaholic.’
黑莓手机和跨国贸易意味着越来越多的人超时工作,工作狂现象变得越来越普遍。
到现今为止,“工作狂”仍是见仁见智的一个话题,狄兰•托马斯对酒鬼的定义也是如此,他曾打趣说:“嗜酒者就是喝酒喝得和你一样多的讨厌鬼。”
现在,挪威科学家设计了一个“尺度表”,将积极的员工和那些有行为问题、工作过度以至伤身的员工区分开来。
这一“卑尔根工作狂尺度表”观察了从吸毒者到嗜酒者等各种瘾君子的行为表现,但是将这些行为和职场联系起来。
举例来说,那些腾出时间加班或是如果不天天超时工作就会感到内疚的人可能是工作狂。
研究人员、卑尔根大学的塞西莉亚•休•安德瑞亚森博士说该尺度表在全世界是头一个。这一研究发表在《心理学杂志》上。
这个表经过25个行业的1.2万名员工的测试,反映出安德瑞亚森博士所说的“上瘾的七个要素”。
这些要素是:突出性(显著性)、情绪、忍耐力、脱瘾、挣扎、复发、问题。
该表是挪威卑尔根大学的心理学家和诺丁汉特伦特大学的同事共同设计的。
卑尔根大学的科学家认为人们的工作成瘾症日益严重,因为家庭和办公室的界限越来越模糊。
例如,经常使用手机、笔记本电脑和平板电脑意味着更难“关机”,也更容易在家工作。
全球化的发展也意味着某些公司需要和不同时区的同事联系,因此人们也会在非正常工作时间工作。
这些因素和其他因素让更多的员工“不得不强迫性地工作过度”——这构成了工作成瘾。
测一测你是不是工作狂
阅读下面的陈述,并按如下几类给自己打分:1、从不;2、很少;3、有时;4、经常;5、总是。
你思考如何能腾出更多时间来工作。
你工作的时间比你预想的多得多。
你为了减少内疚感、焦虑感、无助感和抑郁感而工作。
别人让你减少工作量,但你置若罔闻。
如果你被禁止工作,你会感到压力很大。
你让工作优先于你的爱好、休闲活动和健身。
你工作太多,已经对你的健康造成负面影响。
如果这7项陈述中,你有4项以上是“经常”或 “总是”,那么这“可能意味着你是个工作狂”。
下一篇: 如何观察她的心中有没有你?
体坛英语资讯:Ruiz stuns Joshua to become world heavyweight champion
国内英语资讯:China-EU tourism cooperation receives boost, official says
国内英语资讯:Around 9.78 mln people honor deceased at cemeteries during tomb-sweeping holiday
国际英语资讯:Malaysia, Singapore reach agreement on settling airspace dispute
国际英语资讯:Pakistan warns India over alleged plans of possible military action
国内英语资讯:Chinas NPC delegation visits Armenia
国内英语资讯:China to avoid debt burden for BRI participating countries: envoy
国际英语资讯:North Macedonia ready to face increased pressure at border with Greece: official
微软要求政府向他们多收税,难道是嫌自己钱多?
“晚婚不婚”上热搜,结婚率连跌5年,这届年轻人为啥不爱结婚了?
国际英语资讯:Russia, Turkey agree to boost bilateral investment
国内英语资讯:China moves to boost SME growth
《饥饿游戏》前传小说明年出版 狮门计划拍成电影
Uber上市才1个月,COO和CMO就都离职了
体坛英语资讯:Shandong Luneng beat Tianjin Tianhai 4-2 at Chinese Super League
体坛英语资讯:Sun Yang records personal fastest 1,500m freestyle in four years
四口之家的预算建议: 理财方式发生了巨变
国际英语资讯:UK PM forced to delay Brexit to avoid no deal as MPs pass law
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Turkeys election results remain in limbo as ruling party disputes oppositions
国际英语资讯:U.S. tourist kidnapped in Uganda rescued
国际英语资讯:World Economic Forum MENA 2019 calls for collaboration to face regional challenges
体坛英语资讯:Cairo Derby ends goalless, keeping Egyptian Premiere League title race alive
人过50岁会后悔什么?
怎样练成流利的英语口语
避孕药或有助于降低患卵巢癌的风险
汉堡王正面叫板星巴克,但这价格有点怪
体坛英语资讯:FIVB president expects Chinese women to continue medal-winning run
体坛英语资讯:Olympic medalist Obiri says gold win in Denmark, her last in cross country
各国如何纪念逝去的人?
国际英语资讯:UN expert to visit Ecuador Embassy in response to reports of Assanges expulsion, rights vi