What is the Difference Between an 'Addiction', a 'Compulsion' and an 'Obsession'?

[Edwardo Piet]

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

[lrh9]

An addiction is traditionally defined as something with a physiological cause of dependence. That means it actually is used in the body's function. Attempts to stop ingesting the substance causing the addiction can result in withdrawal symptoms.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

@irh

Not quite right.

Some behaviours can be become addictions without the involvement of an ingested substance. Gambling addiction is one of the more widely known of this type of addiction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_addiction


Some types of non substance addiction "internet addiction" are not univerally accepted as 'true addictions', being considered by some to be more avoidant behaviour.

[Edwardo Piet]

Yeah....whereas obsession is just...obsessive? Not necessarily a physical dependency whereas addiction is I guess...

What about compulsion then? If something is compulsive and it's not necessarily an addiction, then how does it differ from OBSESSION?

And in obsessive compulsive disorder for instance; what is the difference between the obsessive part and the compulsive part?

Hypothetically speakling; how is OCD different from just CD (compulsive disorder) or OD (obsessive disorder) for example?

EvF

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

@EVF

An addiction is a compulsion but a compulsion is not necessary an addiction,as there may be no compulsion to repeat the behaviour.

An obsession is fixation on a belief. EG Romantic love often entails a fixation on one person,without say the compulsion to phone that person 50 times a day.

my understanding is that OCD is the combination of obsessive thought and compulsive behaviour. One of the most commonly known is perhaps the cleanliness obsession/ compulsion,where the person say washes his hands a hundred or more times day.


An addiction is characterised by a payoff, which is often the production of dopamine. IE physical addiction is based on pleasure. Obsession is not. It's based on fear. EG dirt=germs=disease=death

The nature addiction is complex and controversial, with competing paradigms,each with a powerful following; IE Alcoholics Anonymous uses the illness model of addiction,which is widely accepted. The other view is the social learning model favoured by many government agencies including my State Health Authority. The second approach effectively argues that being a learned behaviour,addiction can be unlearned,and therefore cured. Proponents of the illness model reject that claim saying addictions CANNOT be cured,only controlled by total abstinence.

A recovering alcoholic, I have no idea which view is right, although I suspect it's both. Total abstinence is the only approach which works for ME. I make no claims of principle.

[Giff]

I think EvF is addicted to this forum

[Edwardo Piet]

Sure fucking am.

EvF

[Kyuuketsuki]

I think EvF is addicted to this forum

I think Ev likes to talk but you have to admit he's good at it (and mostly makes a lot of sense)!

Kyu

[Edwardo Piet]

Mostly makes a lot of sense?

Well perhaps I'd admit that's probably true at least to SOME extent and give myself SOME credit...BUT - ONLY when I don't forget to delete all my repeated paraphrasings of my post - and I don't just leave them in there (or too many of them) - as I often do lol

EvF

[Giff]

I think EvF is addicted to this forum

I think Ev likes to talk but you have to admit he's good at it (and mostly makes a lot of sense)!

Kyu

Yes, and I just said it as a joke. Nothing serious.