Understanding the Psychology of Addiction

Psychology is scientific studies of the mind.

Mind is a concept. It does not have a geographical location..

Addiction is a curse to human species.

Addiction is defined clinically as a significant behavioral change where in an individual has a pattern of behavior that is repetitive, increasing in intensity, duration and/or frequency with inability to reduce or refrain from the act & on attempting to do so will develop physical or psychological discomfort sufficient enough to cause impairment of Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual life of self and significant others.

In simple terms “when I do it, I feel good” “when I don’t, I feel terrible” interestingly when I feel good I want to do it again. The virtuous cycle becomes a vicious cycle.

Human life begins with hedonistic displeasure of being born. A result of gestational relative inactivity changing in active efforts to adapt to painful reality. The concept of pain and pleasure are developed from the early days of life. Happiness and Sadness, Right and Wrong, Good and Bad are always retrospective analysis. The process of learning begins by default. Tools of learning and experience of joy or displeasure is an optimum blend of sensory input pleasures with kinetic expressions. Perceived pain and pleasure on the same continuum are the social perceptions passed by parental inputs of elders that they received for their elders. Protective parents in name of love may alter the social interpersonal skill patterns of a child. The equilibrium of individualistic and social perceptions are more or less scripted by age of 12 in current generation.

In human species: Thoughts Emotions and Memories are responsible for developing desire. Desire is an unconscious process. When it becomes conscious it will be termed as Urge. Urge is a dynamic energy required to carry out kinetic action. Repeated actions form habits. Number of Habits in an individual form a variety of characters that would create the Individual personality. All personalities are governed by default equilibrium of individual and social environments.

Addictive logic is based on the repeatedly reinforced thought of desire driven hedonistic need of instant gratifications. Absence of desired outcomes are perceived painful, resulting in attempts to find pleasure. Journey of Futile pursuit of pleasure result into formation of pervasive addictive logic. Increased Intensity, duration and frequency of illusive pleasure in the presence of increasing negative manifestations on mind, body and altered balance of life.

More than often some behaviors are socially acceptable, that results in reinforced patterns of dependency. However, the hedonistic drives with altered internal protective perceptions allow that individual to develop habitual patterns of probable harmful outcomes. Inability to reinforce the inner instinctual protective defence mechanisms enable the habitual patterns to change into compulsive behavior. That reinforces addictive logic followed by increased disappointment and despair.

Read full article here : Psychology of Addiction