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ENTHUSIASM IS A happy and joyous state of mind. It is a condition of high spirits—a special form of elation. Enthusiasm has some of the buoyancy of euphoria and the activity of mania, and it is obviously different from the blissful and peaceful elations. It is my aim to differentiate enthusiasm from other varieties of elation and to distinguish several types of enthusiasm. Then I shall attempt to formulate some of the metapsychological elements which make for the phenomenon of enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is a passionate state of mind. It is exciting, active, and noisy—not quiet or passive like bliss. In this regard it resembles the hypomanias, only the activities are more realistic and adaptive. The more incongruous or bizarre the activities, the more likely that we are dealing with pathological enthusiasm or a hypomanic state.
There is an air of extravagance and expansiveness about enthusiasm—a readiness to use superlatives. The enthusiastic person does not merely feel good or even very good, but great—in fact, "the greatest!" There is a sense of exuberance, richness, an abundance of good fortune; yet with it all, there is some awareness that one is exaggerating; but it is enjoyable, and one is reluctant to give it up.