Compulsive Behavior A Psychological Explanation

A compulsive behavior is an action that a person feels â€Å"compelled† or driven to do over and over again. While these compulsive actions may appear to be irrational or pointless, and may even result in negative consequences, the individual experiencing the compulsion feels unable to stop him or herself. Key Takeaways: Compulsive Behavior Compulsive behaviors are actions a person feels driven or compelled to do repeatedly, even if those actions appear to be irrational or pointless.A compulsion is different from an addiction, which is a physical or chemical dependence on a substance or behavior.Compulsive behaviors can be physical acts, like repetitive hand washing or hoarding, or mental exercises, like counting or memorizing books.Some compulsive behaviors are symptomatic of the psychiatric condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).Some compulsive behaviors can be harmful when practiced to an extreme. The compulsive behavior can be a physical act, like hand washing or door-locking, or a mental activity, like counting objects or memorizing telephone books. When an otherwise harmless behavior becomes so consuming that it negatively impacts oneself or others, it may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Compulsion vs. Addiction A compulsion is different from an addiction. The former is an overwhelming desire (or sense of physical need) to do something, while an addiction is a physical or chemical dependence on a substance or behavior. People with advanced addictions will continue their addictive behavior, even when they understand that doing so is harmful to themselves and others. Alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, and gambling are perhaps the most common examples of addictions. Two key differences between compulsion and addiction are pleasure and awareness. Pleasure: Compulsive behaviors, such as those involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder, rarely result in feelings of pleasure, whereas addictions typically do. For example, people who compulsively wash their hands get no pleasure from doing so. By contrast, people with addictions â€Å"want† to use the substance or engage in the behavior because they expect to enjoy it. This desire for pleasure or relief becomes part of the self-perpetuating cycle of addiction as the person suffers the discomfort of withdrawal that comes when they are unable to use the substance or engage in the behavior. Awareness: People with obsessive-compulsive disorders are typically aware of their behaviors and are bothered by the knowledge that they have no logical reason for doing them. On the other hand, people with addictions are often unaware of or unconcerned about the negative consequences of their actions. Typical of the denial stage of addictions, the individuals refuse to admit that their behavior is harmful. Instead, they are â€Å"just having fun† or trying to â€Å"fit in.† Often, it takes a devastating consequence like a drunk-driving conviction, a divorce, or getting fired for persons with addictions to become aware of the realities of their actions. Compulsion vs. Habit Unlike compulsions and addictions, which are acted out consciously and uncontrollably, habits are actions that are repeated regularly and automatically. For example, although we may be aware that we are brushing our teeth, we almost never wonder why we are doing it or ask ourselves, â€Å"Should I be brushing my teeth or not?†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Habits typically develop over time through a natural process called â€Å"habituation,† during which repetitive actions that must be consciously initiated eventually become subconscious and are carried out habitually without specific thought. For example, while as children, we may need to be reminded to brush our teeth, we eventually grow to do it as a matter of habit. Good habits, like tooth-brushing, are behaviors that are consciously and intentionally added to our routines in order to maintain or improve our health or general wellbeing. While there are good habits and bad, unhealthy habits, any habit can become a compulsion or even an addiction. In other words, you really can have â€Å"too much of a good thing.† For example, the good habit of exercising regularly can become an unhealthy compulsion or addiction when done to excess. Common habits often develop into addictions when they result in a chemical dependency, as in the cases of alcoholism and smoking. The habit of having a glass of beer with dinner, for example, becomes an addiction when the desire to drink turns into a physical or emotional need to drink.   Of course, the key difference between a compulsive behavior and a habit is the ability to choose to do them or not. While we can choose to add good, healthy habits to our routines, we can also choose to break old harmful habits. The Home of a Hoarder. Getty Images/Sandy Huffaker Common Compulsive Behaviors While almost any behavior can become compulsive or addictive, some are more common. These include: Eating: Compulsive overeating—often done as an attempt to cope with stress—is the inability to control one’s amount of nutritional intake, resulting in excessive weight gain.Shopping: Compulsive shopping is characterized by shopping done to the extent that it impairs the shoppers’ lives, eventually leaving them financially unable to meet their daily needs or support their families.Checking: Compulsive checking describes the constant checking of things like locks, switches, and appliances. Checking is usually driven by an overwhelming feeling of the need to protect oneself or others from imminent harm.Hoarding: Hoarding is the excessive saving of items and the inability to discard any of those items. Compulsive hoarders often become unable to use rooms in their homes as they were meant to be used and have difficulty moving about the home because of the stored items.Gambling: Compulsive or problem gambling is simply the inability to resist the desire to gamb le. Even when and if they win, compulsive gamblers are unable to stop wagering. Problem gambling typically results in serious personal, financial, and social problems in the person’s life.Sexual Activity: Also known as hypersexual disorder, compulsive sexual behavior is characterized by constant feelings, thoughts, desires, and behaviors about anything related to sex. While the behaviors involved can range from normal sexual behaviors to those that are illegal or considered morally and culturally unacceptable, the disorder can cause problems in many areas of life. As with all mental health issues, persons who believe they may be suffering from compulsive or addictive behaviors should speak to a healthcare professional. When Compulsion Becomes OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety disorder that causes a recurring, unwanted feeling or idea that a certain action must be done repetitively â€Å"no matter what.† While many people compulsively repeat certain behaviors, those behaviors do not interfere with their daily lives and may even help them structure their day in order to complete certain tasks. In persons with OCD, however, these feelings become so consuming that the fear of failing to complete the repeated action causes them to experience anxiety to the point of physical illness. Even when OCD sufferers know their obsessive actions are unnecessary and even harmful, they find it impossible to even consider the idea of stopping them. Most compulsive behaviors attributed to OCD are extremely time-consuming, cause major distress, and impair work, relationships, or other important functions. Some of the more potentially damaging compulsive behaviors often associated with OCD include eating, shopping, hoarding and animal hoarding, skin picking, gambling, and sex. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about 1.2 percent of Americans have OCD, with slightly more women than men affected. OCD often begins in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood, with 19 being the average age at which disorder develops. While they have some characteristics in common, addictions and habits are different from compulsive behaviors. Understanding these differences can help in taking appropriate action or seeking treatment. Sources †What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?â€Å" American Psychiatric Associationâ€Å"Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.† National Institute of Mental Health.†Habit, Compulsion and Addictionâ€Å" ChangingMinds.org

Diet Cookbook Stop Looking For Those Diets For Losing...

Paleo Diet Cookbook Stop looking for those â€Å"diets for losing weight† books By: Christopher Knox paleo diet recipes-paleo diet recipes for weight loss-paleo diet for beginners-paleo diet recipe book-diets for losing weight-paleo diet plan For more books like this go to: Christopher-Knox Author Page FREE books right now! Free book 1 Free book 2 Free book 3 Free book 4 For more info like this go to: The diabetes cure Introduction In this paleo recipes book we are going to go over some of my very favorite meals that you can prepare. I am a nutritionist and personal trainer so the items I give you, I am giving you with my prior knowledge. My name is Christopher knox and I have been in athletics my entire life. Health and fitness is, by far, my biggest passion and it is why I have made this my career choice. Not only do I love helping people and seeing people reach their goals, but I also like seeing people learn more and become passionate about something I am passionate about. When it comes to cooking you really have to think about who you are cooking for and what reason you are preparing the meal for. Is it just for you? Or is it for you and your family? Are you cooking for taste and pleasure? Or are you cooking simply for the macronutrient and micro nutrient content to further better yourself and reach your goals you have set for personal fitness and health? So many of us as individuals know, for the most part, what we should and shouldn’t be eating yet we stillShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes Essay2062 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction: 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes right now.(1). That number continues to rise, but many of those people are unable to find relief. Diabetes symptoms first came to light in 1552 B.C., when an Egyptian physician named Hesy-Ra noticed that there was a mysterious disease that led to frequent urination, and that said urine attracted ants. Moving forward to 150 AD, a Greek physician named Arateus described diabetes as â€Å"the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine†Read MoreThe Problem of Obesity3993 Words   |  16 PagesReasoning and Problem Solving James Reed The Problem of Obesity Obesity is a major problem in American. Year after year, new diets are published, and new medications are hailed as wonder drugs that will take weight off with little physical effort, yet the problem still exists unabated. In testimony before the US Congress, Berzins (2001) asserted that, â€Å"[weight] is a complex result of heredity, culture and lifestyle.† According to Rosin (2004), â€Å"About one-third of the U.S. population is 20Read MoreBrand Building Blocks96400 Words   |  386 Pagesago, the manufacturer largely controlled information, retailers are now collecting vast amounts of information and developing models to use it. As a result, there is an increasing focus on margins and efficient use of space. Suppliers, particularly those in the third or fourth market-share position with only modest loyalty levels, are exposed to harsh pressure to provide price concessions. A decade ago, private-label brands were largely limited to low-quality, low-price products unsupported by effectiveRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagessubmit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Many of the designations by manufacturers and seller to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Whetten, David A. (David Allred) Developing managementRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 Pagesdiplomas or appropriate college degrees increasingly will be at a disadvantage, as their employment opportunities are confined to the lowest-paying service jobs. In short, there is a growing gap between the knowledge and skills required by many jobs and those possessed by employees and applicants. Several different studies and projections all point to the likelihood that employers in many industries will have difficulties obtaining sufficiently educated and trained workers. Estimates are that about half

Changing Behavior Case Analysis Free Essays

Changing Behavior Case Analysis Carlissa Tigue Psychology Narketta Sparkman Baker College October 25, 2012 The client, Mrs Freeman has been a drinker for 15 years and she currently drinks a fifth of Vodka a day and a six pack of beer. She is the mother of three girls and three boys. She has developed health issues related to her long term drinking habit. We will write a custom essay sample on Changing Behavior Case Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mrs. Freeman wants to quit drinking for her own health and the health of her children. Classical conditioning could explain Mrs. Freeman’s drinking addition. Her drinking acted as an unconditioned stimulus. As she continued to drink, she craved for more drinks and then stronger drinks this becomes her unconditioned response. Over time social, environmental and psychological influences became the conditioned stimulus for Mrs. Freeman’s drinking habit. When Mrs. Freeman finds herself in certain situations that make her feel uncomfortable her conditioned response is to have a drink. An example of this would be that Mrs. Freeman finds having depending solely on herself stressful, so she has a drink or two or maybe three. Mrs Freeman knows that this is not the behavior she wants to continue but because of classical conditioning (Morris Maisto, p. 153), she continues to drink whenever possible. The negative effects of her drinking are poor health for her and her children. The cost of buying liquid and beer on a regular bases are things Mrs. Freeman wants to stop. Mrs Freeman could use classical conditioning to learn to quit drinking. She also could go to AA meetings and get a sponsor. The meetings would be the unconditioned stimulus (Morris Maisto, p. 154). Every time Mrs. Freeman wants a drink she could go to a meeting or call her sponsor. Mrs. Freeman should pay attention to things that upset her and led her to having a drink. She should continue to go to her AA meetings and talking to her sponsor. In time the continued behavior of going to AA and speaking with her sponsor would become her conditioned stimulus. When Mrs Freeman finds herself in a situation that she cannot handle, she calls her sponsor or attend a meeting, this would become her conditioned response to situation that she cannot handle. Operant Conditioning could also play a part in Mrs. Freeman’s drinking habit. Mrs. Freeman started drinking when she was younger, as she got older she drunk more due to pressure. She continued to drink because she had so much going on, that she could not handle. The good feeling associated with drinking acted as a positive reinforcement, that made her continue her behavior. Now that Mrs. Freeman is grown and all on her own drinking has had a negative effect on Mrs. Freeman’s life. She has gone to work drinking, and been warn not to do it again. This has not stop Mrs. Freeman from drinking, she now just hides her drinking better. Mrs. Freeman knows that if she continues this behavior, she could loss her job. She has been affected by both positive and negative reinforcement (Morris Maisto, p 159). The negative reinforcement of drinking is poor health and the possibility of losing her job. These things have made Mrs. Freeman motivated to quit drinking. Instead of having a drink Mrs. Freeman will call her sponsor or even have a cup of coffee. She will reward herself by buying herself a new dress every time, she doesn’t pick up a drink. Mrs. Freeman is motivated to quit drinking for her health and the health of her children. Cognitive and social learning also play a role in maintain unwanted behaviors (Morris Maisto, p 174). Growing up with a father who was drinking everyday played a part in Mrs. Freeman’s emotional state. She grew up not knowing that the same thing could happen to her. Mrs Freeman saw her father drinking every day, she stole drinks when her father was not around. Mrs. Freeman modified her behavior so that her mother nor father knew she was drinking. Seeing her father get yelled at by her mother led Mrs. Freeman to learning how to not get caught drinking. When she reached adulthood, she had tried to quit drinking on several occasion. She felt that it was something wrong with her. As a young adult just finishing school Mrs. Freeman felt overwhelmed, and the drinking become worst. This type of behavior is known as learned helplessness (Morris Mastio, p. 164). My conclusion is that after speaking with Mrs Freeman, and hearing her story with drinking. Mrs. Freeman will continue to seek help to overcome her addition. With the right people and motivation, she will be fine. Mrs. Freeman will live a productive life in society if she continues to follow the plans that she has set forth. How to cite Changing Behavior Case Analysis, Essay examples

The Stone Age in the 21st Century free essay sample

This is a creative writing sample that examines what the planet Earth might look like to outsiders, hundreds of years after a meteor destroys it. This creative writing essay presents an accounting of a scenario in which a meteor hits the planet Earth, destroying all living things. Hundreds of years after the collision, someone stumbles across what used to be a home, and tries to figure out what the artifacts left in the house were used for before the meteor crash. We arrived on planet Earth this morning and began our expedition with little hope of finding anything useful for our research. Earth has been a dead planet for hundreds of years and we know that there is no life form existing on it. As we begin to disembark however our scout conveyed that he found what appears to be a dwelling form the structure people. The structure people are those who lived here on Earth hundreds of years ago. We will write a custom essay sample on The Stone Age in the 21st Century or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We so named them the structure people because of the structures that they used to live in. The structures are long gone because the elements on Earth have destroyed them but the scout found a location of a former structure in which some things have been preserved.