On passion and moral behavior in achievement settings: The mediating role of pride

The Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand et al. in J Person Soc Psychol 85:756–767, 2003) distinguishes two types of passion: harmonious passion (HP) and obsessive passion (OP) that predict adaptive and less adaptive
outcomes, respectively. In the present research, we were interested in understanding the role of passion in the adoption of
moral behavior in achievement settings. It was predicted that the two facets of pride (authentic and hubristic; Tracy and
Robins in J Person Soc Psychol, 92:506–525, 2007) would mediate the passion-moral behavior relationship. Specifically, because people who are passionate about a given activity
are highly involved in it, it was postulated that they should typically do well and thus experience high levels of pride when
engaged in the activity. However, it was also hypothesized that while both types of passion should be conducive to authentic
pride, only OP should lead to hubristic pride. Finally, in line with past research on pride (Carver et al. in J Res Person
44:698–703, 2010; Tracy et al. in Self Identity 8:196–213, 2009), only hubristic pride was expected to negatively predict moral behavior, while authentic pride was expected to positively
predict moral behavior. Results of two studies conducted with paintball players (N = 163, Study 1) and athletes (N = 296, Study 2) supported the proposed model. Future research directions are discussed in light of the Dualistic Model of
Passion.