Heavy-work investment differs from certain types of work-based motivation theories, and it could be understood as a form of intrinsic motivation but with different forces at work driving the direction of desire within the individual.

With intrinsic motivation, individuals place an emphasis on moving towards where they want to be in terms of career, and a structure, system or plan can often be in place to work towards this. Heavy investment theory however suggests that some people can tend to immerse themselves into their work on a more extreme scale than most people. Heavy investors for example would tend to work to the extreme and dedicate themselves to long hours, extensive effort and high levels of concentration and energy to help them get towards their goals as quick as possible. This heavy-work nature is often seen in those creating their own businesses, who might have the idea that their extreme levels of commitment to their work will pay off more quickly by way of their increased dedication and heightened level of working hours.

Work-based psychology presents two main common factors in heavy investment theory, which are: 1) investment in time and 2) investment in intensity of work.

Not all individuals that are internally driven work purely for the end gain though and a variety of reasons can be put forward to explain what it is that propels the need for heavy-work investment in certain people. The heavy-work type of individual often displays characteristics psychological traits such as:

1. Workaholic -  This gives an idea of what heavy investment type individuals might act like. Constantly involved with work, constantly on the go. Workaholic tendencies are caused by psychological factors and often the term 'workaholic' can be use to describe those that are addicted to their work in an an uncontrollable manner, working constantly in a perpetually unstable manner, regardless of final result in terms of financial gain.
2. The work-devoted - refers to those with a high level of passion for their job, but work in a controllable and stable manner. The result of their work is the manifestation of their passion.
3. The intimacy-avoiders - is the type of individuals who works long hours and puts in extra effort and energy in order to avoid certain situations, either intimate situations or social situations or to avoid uncomfortable or strained relationships. This psychological issue can also often become uncontrollable and unstable.
4. The leisure-avoiders - This refers to the type of individual that becomes heavily invested in work due to the desire to avoid leisure time or leisure activities. An individual might find the pursuit of work meaningful in a such a deep way that they don't get pleasure any other way, via leisure activities or relationships. Heavy investment then becomes  hobby/interest as well as a job and a compulsion. This psychological issue can also have detrimental effects if deemed as uncontrollable or unstable.

For some individuals, heavy investment at work can have a detrimental effect on their personal lives.

The results of a recent academic study revealed that workaholism was primarily and positively associated with having a prevention focus, as described above, whereas work engagement was primarily and positively associated with having a promotion focus. Furthermore, workaholism was negatively related to job satisfaction and job performance, and positively related to turnover intention, whereas work engagement was positively associated with job satisfaction and job performance, and negatively associated with turnover intention. The findings show that the workaholic and the engaged employee both have different work-based goals and use different strategies to pursue their goals.

Presenteeism can also be classed as a form of heavy investment. It can develop from pressures that the individual puts onto themselves due to the nature of their own psychological make-up, or pressures put upon them caused by the working culture and business practices of the organisation they work for. Presenteeism can arise from external pressure put onto an individual where they might feel compelled to be working, or feel compelled to be present within the workplace at all times, as much as possible, often regardless of any mental or physical health issues they might be having.

Presenteeism can be caused by job expectations and what a person believes is expected from them, from worries about performance, or worries about actually utilising annual leave. Presenteeism can be caused by an employee's personal concerns about the opinion of their superiors, bullying by superiors - where an employee might be made to feel they have to be at work no matter what. The example of undue work-based pressure from leaders creates a fear of job security or a fear of missing out on an opportunity to develop their role or career if they are not always seen to be hard working and putting in extra hours at work.

Heavy work investment can also be caused external negative factors, what researchers call 'situational heavy work investors'. These are those who put as much time and effort into work to meet demands, such as large families and the costs associated with them, to try and pay off debts, or to live up to a perceived lifestyle that they have created for themselves.