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Workaholism: A Social Problem of The Present

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Workaholism: A Social Problem of The Present
Manoj Adhikari

ENG -122

Date: 12/05/2012

Workaholism: A Social Problem of The Present

Introduction

In the modern society, the problem of workaholism is quite acute. According to studies, most strongly this illness affects employees in Japan and the UK; this issue is relevant for the U.S.as well.

There have always been people who work more than others and could not imagine their life without work. However, with the commercialization of society, their number has increased dramatically. In the period of rapid development of new technologies and intense competition in almost all professional fields, there are more and more people who dedicate to work and career making a lot of time. First of all, these are motivated young people of 20-35 years old, with healthy ambitions focused on quick promotion and their income increase. Of course, higher wages and a rapid career rise add some charm to the labor madness - information overload, overtime work, around the clock communication with customers and partners, living in different parts of the world, etc. But does the goal justify the means?

Currently workaholism is recognized as mental illness that is not less dangerous than the addiction to drugs or alcohol. Numerous facts and figures indicate that workaholism can lead to a serious illness and even death.

Workaholism is manifested in the perception of work as the only (or most significant) means of fulfillment, achievement of recognition, and as means of obtaining subjective satisfaction in life. For a workaholic, work comes first in his/her life, leaving behind all the other aspects such as personal life, family, entertainment, and social activities, and can lead to the complete social exclusion. Thus, it is a mental disorder that requires treatment and a social problem that requires a solution. In this study, we will try to give a description of workaholism as a psychological problem, consider this phenomenon



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