What drives the geeks? Linking computer enthusiasm to achievement goals

The personality construct of geekism is introduced as the tendency to act out one’s need for cognition in the domain of computing technology. Achievement goal theory is introduced, and we ask, what drives geeks in terms of achievement. In a questionnaire study, it is shown that geekism is related to achievement motivation in imagined situations with technology. Need for cognition showed strong association with self-oriented achievement goals. A newly created scale for computer enthusiasm seems to reflect performance oriented achievement goals.