Harmonious and Obsessive Passion for the Internet: Their Associations With the Couple's Relationship1

Based on a motivational perspective of passion, we investigated the associations between passion for the Internet and level of self‐determined motivation toward the couple's relationship. Our results show that an obsessive passion toward the Internet was associated with lower self‐determination in the couple, greater conflict in the relationship, and low levels of dyadic adjustment. In contrast, harmonious passion toward the Internet was associated with greater self‐determination in the couple, less conflict, and greater dyadic adjustment. Results suggest that use of the Internet is not necessarily associated with negative interpersonal outcomes. Rather, it appears that the way the activity has been internalized is associated with how individuals internalize their reasons for behaving in other domains.