The Fine-Line Between Addictions and Habits

             Addictions have been around as long as excessive behaviors or habits have existed. From the minute that communication, conscious thought, and walking upright defined our species, we have probably had workaholic hunters, obsessive or compulsive gatherers, overeating cavemen and tobacco or drug abusers. Physicians, judges, the clergy, addicts, their families and the general public throughout history have been challenged by the task of defining the word addiction. Likewise professional people in fields such as medicine, psychiatry and psychology define addiction in terms that are appropriate to their areas of concern. For example , for the purpose of providing recovery, Narcotics Anonymous defines addiction treating as a disease because this makes sense to them and it eventually works for them as well. Depending on the definition and its purpose, the word addiction would emphasize things as physiological dependence, psychological dependence, family dynamics, behavioral problems, and morality, among others.
             Addiction is a term that has been used in many ways, but if we search the notion of addiction we will find definitions that emphasize "the habitual and chronic use of chemical substances that alter physical or mental states" (Compton's Encyclopedia Online, 1998). Consequently, we can think that compulsive habits such as surfing the Internet, watching certain television shows every night, working long hours or biting one's fingernails represent addictive behaviors. Although, the word habit is intimately connected to the word addiction, the terms "addict" and "habit", which entered the English language many centuries ago, have distinctively meanings. "Addict" is a term that has its origin in Roman Law and it referred to "a person who was formally made over or bound to another, attached by restraint or obligation" (Compton's Encyclopedia Online, 1998). On the other hand, ...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
The Fine-Line Between Addictions and Habits. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 04:47, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/101456.html