Career Psychology

Burnout

An occupational phenomenon (WHO, ICD-11) characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism), and reduced personal accomplishment resulting from chronic workplace stress.

Burnout was formally defined by Christina Maslach in 1981 through the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which remains the gold-standard measure. The WHO added burnout to ICD-11 in 2019 as an occupational phenomenon.

Three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion (feeling drained), Depersonalization (cynicism and detachment from work), and Reduced Personal Accomplishment (feeling ineffective). Burnout differs from stress: stress is "too much," burnout is "not enough."

Risk factors include: high workload + low control (Karasek model), effort-reward imbalance, personality traits (high Neuroticism, high Conscientiousness with perfectionism), and poor work-life boundaries. Prevention requires addressing both individual and organizational factors.

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Related Terms

Person-Environment Fit

The degree of match between a person's personality, values, and interests and their work environment. Higher fit predicts greater job satisfaction, performance, and retention.

Vocational Interest

A stable pattern of preferences for certain types of work activities, environments, and outcomes. Measured by assessments like RIASEC to guide career decisions.

Flow State

A mental state of complete absorption in an activity, where time seems to disappear and performance peaks. Identified by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990).

Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

A motivational framework identifying three universal psychological needs: Autonomy (choice), Competence (mastery), and Relatedness (connection). When met, people thrive.

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