Ben Schellenberg

Dr. Ben Schellenberg is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba. His research focuses on understanding how individuals engage with their favorite activities to maximize benefits (e.g., performance, well-being) while minimizing costs like burnout and conflict. Central to his work are constructs like passion, self-compassion, perfectionism, and savouring, studied across populations including athletes, sports fans, coaches, and students. He emphasizes distinguishing harmonious and obsessive passion and their impacts on psychological outcomes.

Education: PhD (specific discipline unspecified, though aligned with his research focus).

Research Interests: Dr. Schellenberg examines passion’s dual nature—its role in fostering well-being versus causing harm—through frameworks like the quadripartite approach. He investigates topics such as self-compassion’s role in decision-making, perfectionism’s relationship with cheating attitudes, and how savouring enhances performance. His studies often integrate longitudinal designs and applied interventions, such as designing self-compassion programs for athletes.

Advising & Grants: He actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students, encouraging applications for research awards. His work frequently addresses practical implications for sport psychology, education, and mental health, with a focus on translating theory into actionable strategies.

Labs & Teams: He leads the PSA Lab, exploring passion, self-compassion, and agency in activity engagement. Collaborations span academia and applied settings, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to human behavior and well-being.