Addiction has been commonly viewed as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances, such as, tobacco, alcohol, heroin and other drugs. Nowadays, however, the term addiction is sometimes applied to abnormal psychological dependency on non-subtance-related activities, such as, gambling, food, work, internet, sex, pornography, exercise, computers, video games, shopping, pain, cutting, idolizing, and spiritual obsession. Other terms to described such behaviors are:
- Behavioral addiction
- Process addiction
- Non-subtance-related addiction, and
- Soft addictions
"Soft addiction" is a term coined by Judith Wright to describe activities or behaviors which do not have grave risk or consecuence on health, rather, they have negative effects on personal time and productivity. It is estimated that about 90% of Americans have at least one form of "soft addiction" in their lives. Nadine Kaslow, PhD professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, has commented on an issue, saying that while it is healthy to relieve stress with behaviors like drinking coffee and watching TV, when they become habitual, they turn problematic to one's health and hapiness.
No agreement or consensus there has been so far as to the applicability of the word "addiction" to these conditions of human behaviors. In the case of pathological gambling, for instance, the American Psychological Association classifies the condition as an "impulsive control dissorder" and not an addiction.
Regardless of the term we use to describe such abnormal behaviors, I consider that they are a serious social problem that psychologists, parents, teachers, and society in general, have to face.
In all way addiction are bad
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