What is the Difference Between an 'Addiction', a 'Compulsion' and an 'Obsession'?
May 15, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Title says it all basically. I've been wondering the differences, I think they can be subtle and/but the thing is that Dictionaries/Thesauruses don't seem to do justice.
My own personal opinion is that I think that an obsession is very obsessive LIKE an addiction and compulsion BUT unlike them it can be given up...it's just the person in question doesn't wish TO do anything else. IF something better (in their opinion) DID come up they'd happily change their mind...since with an addiction/compulsion they would have to carry on and couldn't help continuing DESPITE the fact they know it's bad for them/even if they don't WANT to continue.
Now the thing is what is the difference between a compulsion and an addiction? Perhaps an addiction is more of a PHYSICAL/Chemical/BIOLOGICAL dependency whereas an obsession is more Psychological perhaps? Hmm I dunno.
But anyway, regardless of what I've said. I'd like to hear anyone else's thoughts on the subject...
Question: What is the difference between an Addiction a Compulsion and an Obsession?
EvF
My own personal opinion is that I think that an obsession is very obsessive LIKE an addiction and compulsion BUT unlike them it can be given up...it's just the person in question doesn't wish TO do anything else. IF something better (in their opinion) DID come up they'd happily change their mind...since with an addiction/compulsion they would have to carry on and couldn't help continuing DESPITE the fact they know it's bad for them/even if they don't WANT to continue.
Now the thing is what is the difference between a compulsion and an addiction? Perhaps an addiction is more of a PHYSICAL/Chemical/BIOLOGICAL dependency whereas an obsession is more Psychological perhaps? Hmm I dunno.
But anyway, regardless of what I've said. I'd like to hear anyone else's thoughts on the subject...
Question: What is the difference between an Addiction a Compulsion and an Obsession?
EvF
