Definitionv1
Workaholism: the achievement drive operating in tyranny
Workaholism: the achievement drive operating in tyranny mode, characterized by compulsive working, inability to stop, and distress when not working, not because the work is fulfilling multiple drives but because the achievement drive has suppressed the others so thoroughly that not-working feels existentially threatening
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely distinguishes workaholism from work engagement by identifying its specific mode of operation (tyranny mode), its behavioral characteristics (compulsive working, distress when not working), and its underlying mechanism (suppression of other drives). It establishes workaholism as a specific form of drive tyranny with clear operational boundaries.