The Three-Dimensional Model of Burnout

The three-dimensional model of burnout is Christina Maslach's foundational contribution to occupational psychology: the empirical demonstration that what people call "burnout" is not a single phenomenon but a syndrome comprising three distinct, independently measurable dimensions. Emotional exhaustion is the stress-response component — the depletion of emotional and physical resources. Cynicism (originally depersonalization) is the interpersonal component — the progressive detachment from work and those it serves. Reduced personal accomplishment is the self-evaluation component — the declining sense of competence and meaningful contribution. These three dimensions emerged from thousands of interviews across professions and have been validated across decades of research. The model's clinical power derives from its differentiation; its current vulnerability derives from the assumption that the three dimensions will continue to covary.