What Do We Know About Mixed Passion? A Review of Harmonious–Obsessive Passion Configurations

ABSTRACT Recent work on the dualistic model of passion has suggested benefits to evaluating assumptions about how harmonious (HP) and obsessive passion (OP) function within a person. This paper contributes to that effort by providing a review aimed at assessing passion at the level of the person, with particular focus on instances in which both HP and OP are high. Synthesizing evidence across a variety of methods, the review supports a configurational perspective on passion in which different combinations of HP and OP are associated with distinct patterns of engagement and functioning. Specifically, high HP/low OP reflects flexible, regulated engagement associated with well‐being and sustainable performance, whereas low HP/high OP reflects controlled, rigid striving linked to conflict and impaired functioning. Low HP/low OP reflects low internalization and reduced meaning. Comparatively, High HP/high OP represents a high‐intensity pursuit configuration characterized by exceptional engagement alongside context‐sensitive vulnerability. Results from this review, and the subsequent perspective presented, suggest that obsessive passion may in some cases function as an intensity amplifier, with outcomes depending on the passion activity, autonomy support, and self‐regulatory resources. Overall, these findings aim to motivate greater attention to passion profiles as primary units of analysis and clarify when passionate engagement supports thriving versus languishing.