Is addiction a learned behavior or an inherited trait?

Answer 1

I agree, both...If you live in a house with people who have the predispotion, to drink, and they are doing it in front of you, and smoking, chances are, you're going to do it also..same with drug abuse...I have seen many things like gambling, also, become an inherant trait.

Answer 2

At times the answer to this can be somewhat split. And it is kind of two fold depending on the life you've lead. There is supposedly, a written thing in genetics for people who have a pre-disposition to addictive behavior. Alcoholism and such things are usually written in the genes and children of alcoholics often become one themselves, even if say the alcoholic parent was never around and they didn't learn the behavior first hand. On the other side however, you can look at a family where neither of the parents is particularly addicted to anything, but are just perhaps somewhat mentally unstable and abuse their children. Now while there wasn't any addiction, often these children will go grow up with a hatred of authority, a compulsion to act out and often turn to drugs as a way to escape. As most drugs do have that very grabbing nature to them addiction easily settles in and they struggle with that for a very long time. And once addicted to something, the chemistry of the brain is actually changed and there is this physiological need and dependancy for the feelings of that drug. Which is why treatement is so involved and so difficult.

If you perhaps are asking this because you find yourself with an overbearing addiction I suggest you seek professional help. As in most cases the person never has the sheer will power to deny the chemistry their brain has become dependent upon and often find themselves going back again and again as much as they really want to just give it up.

Answer 3

I hate the word!!!!! 100 percent I believe people are born with this horrible trait.They just don't have the ability to stop. I know a few people who have an addictive personality and hardly anybody can stand them, its like they are living in their own little world. I once wanted to study these people but i just don't have the time. I wish i could deeper into this but i just feel too sick right now.

Answer 4

Both. Some addictions such alcoholism are definetly genetic. But other addictions on purely habit ( learned behavior) such as overeating.

Answer 5

It is inherited it is like if someone is more likely to have cancer then other people.