Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 50
unrelated to the addictive relationship, denial, and significant impairment in personal,
professional, and family life.
In the different modalities of addictions, the individual seeks to obtain immediate
gratification, presents serious difficulties assessing long term consequences and obsessive
rumination about that relation arises (during the times in which there is absence of
contact).
The time devoted to the newly established relationship tends to increase in frequency and
intensity, which leads to losing interest in other activities that formerly elicited a certain
pleasure. At a later time, the addictive relationship is characterized by denial of the
problem. Although the environment or the relationship in itself point to something negative,
the individual cannot stop carrying out the activity and comes up with all types of
rationalizations and justifications in order to make sure nothing will interfere in carrying it
out.
Despite the attempts to help by family and friends, the addictive relationship continues its
course and starts to show its destructive effects at the personal, family, and social levels.
Recently, the definition of ―addiction‖ has widened. In fact, the current broadening of the
definition of addiction has led to diagnosing patients who are not hooked on any substance
as addicts. In fact, different authors are starting to talk about ―behavioral addictions‖ or
―psychological addictions‖ to refer to a wide scope of addictions without drugs (Echeburúa,
2003 Lejoyuex, McLoughlin, &Adès, 2000 Marks, 1990).
As has happened sometimes with cults, however, the media tend to treat these ―new
addictions‖ with sensationalism. According to Lejoyuex, McLoughlin &Adès (2000) the
addictions without drugs more often described are kleptomania, trichotillomania, pyromania,
pathological gambling and compulsive shopping.
On the other hand, such research shows that in these types of addictions, high levels of
impulsivity and sensation seeking can bring on a higher risk of developing an addictive
pattern.
According to Marks (1990), the common points between drug addiction and behavioral
addiction are: (1) a desire to carry out a counterproductive activity (2) a state of tension
when the activity cannot be carried out (3) a release of tension after carrying out the
activity (4) a new desire to carry out the activity after a variable period of time elapses (5)
a presence of particular external indicators for each addiction and (6) a pleasurable tone in
the initial moments of the addiction.
Other authors (Echeburúa, 2003 Larger, 2001) further widen the scope of addictions
without drugs including: the addiction to food, to shopping, to work, to sex, to the Internet,
or to physical exercise. However, there is not currently sufficient research to enable
establishing specific diagnostic criteria in most of them. Some of these categories are too
wide, not specific enough, does not show sufficient empirical consistency or the greater part
of studies lack sufficient rigor or cannot be extrapolated (DeAngelis, 2000 Tejeiro, 2001).
Widening the notion of addiction therefore implies that any type of pleasurable activity or
relationship can end up being addictive. The essential element in addictive types would not
so much be the substance or the addictive object (toxic or not) per se, but rather the type
of relationship that the individual establishes with that object, an exclusive relationship that
is absorbing and damaging to the individual and his environment.
Although the research inconsistencies, the idea that certain activities or relationships can
become addictive seems plausible in therapeutic terms and in certain people and under
certain conditions, generating significant personal, family, professional, and social
impairment.
unrelated to the addictive relationship, denial, and significant impairment in personal,
professional, and family life.
In the different modalities of addictions, the individual seeks to obtain immediate
gratification, presents serious difficulties assessing long term consequences and obsessive
rumination about that relation arises (during the times in which there is absence of
contact).
The time devoted to the newly established relationship tends to increase in frequency and
intensity, which leads to losing interest in other activities that formerly elicited a certain
pleasure. At a later time, the addictive relationship is characterized by denial of the
problem. Although the environment or the relationship in itself point to something negative,
the individual cannot stop carrying out the activity and comes up with all types of
rationalizations and justifications in order to make sure nothing will interfere in carrying it
out.
Despite the attempts to help by family and friends, the addictive relationship continues its
course and starts to show its destructive effects at the personal, family, and social levels.
Recently, the definition of ―addiction‖ has widened. In fact, the current broadening of the
definition of addiction has led to diagnosing patients who are not hooked on any substance
as addicts. In fact, different authors are starting to talk about ―behavioral addictions‖ or
―psychological addictions‖ to refer to a wide scope of addictions without drugs (Echeburúa,
2003 Lejoyuex, McLoughlin, &Adès, 2000 Marks, 1990).
As has happened sometimes with cults, however, the media tend to treat these ―new
addictions‖ with sensationalism. According to Lejoyuex, McLoughlin &Adès (2000) the
addictions without drugs more often described are kleptomania, trichotillomania, pyromania,
pathological gambling and compulsive shopping.
On the other hand, such research shows that in these types of addictions, high levels of
impulsivity and sensation seeking can bring on a higher risk of developing an addictive
pattern.
According to Marks (1990), the common points between drug addiction and behavioral
addiction are: (1) a desire to carry out a counterproductive activity (2) a state of tension
when the activity cannot be carried out (3) a release of tension after carrying out the
activity (4) a new desire to carry out the activity after a variable period of time elapses (5)
a presence of particular external indicators for each addiction and (6) a pleasurable tone in
the initial moments of the addiction.
Other authors (Echeburúa, 2003 Larger, 2001) further widen the scope of addictions
without drugs including: the addiction to food, to shopping, to work, to sex, to the Internet,
or to physical exercise. However, there is not currently sufficient research to enable
establishing specific diagnostic criteria in most of them. Some of these categories are too
wide, not specific enough, does not show sufficient empirical consistency or the greater part
of studies lack sufficient rigor or cannot be extrapolated (DeAngelis, 2000 Tejeiro, 2001).
Widening the notion of addiction therefore implies that any type of pleasurable activity or
relationship can end up being addictive. The essential element in addictive types would not
so much be the substance or the addictive object (toxic or not) per se, but rather the type
of relationship that the individual establishes with that object, an exclusive relationship that
is absorbing and damaging to the individual and his environment.
Although the research inconsistencies, the idea that certain activities or relationships can
become addictive seems plausible in therapeutic terms and in certain people and under
certain conditions, generating significant personal, family, professional, and social
impairment.
