Author: Claudia M. Elsig, MD

When we think of addictions, we usually associate them with alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription medications. However, not all addictions involve the abuse of intoxicants or substances. Addiction can occur in many forms. 

People can get hooked on things like gambling, shopping, sex, or the internet. Even excessive plastic surgery might be considered an addiction. Just like substance addictions, there are numerous reasons why someone may become dependent on an activity or behaviour. 

As with substance addictions, the causes of addictive behaviours are numerous and complex. 

One thing we know to be true is that behavioural disorders are more likely in dysfunctional families. Difficult family situations, poor behaviour modelling, or the lack of a bond with parents can increase the risk of compulsive behaviours.

This blog considers the role of family dysfunction in addictive behaviours.

What exactly are addictive behaviours?

Behavioural addictions, now a growing area of research, are a type of addiction also known as process addiction or impulse control disorder.¹ Addictive behaviours involve a compulsion to engage in an activity or behaviour. There is diminished control and an inability to reduce or give the behaviour up. 

In addictive behaviours, the individual isn’t addicted to the behaviour per se but to the feeling associated with the behaviour. 

Typically, behavioural addictions include things like gambling, overeating, dieting, television compulsion, internet use, gaming, shopping, exercising, sex, or viewing pornography.

What is family dysfunction?

To understand family dysfunction, it is first essential to consider what healthy family relationships look like. 

In a healthy family dynamic, there is emotional security. Adult family members are adept at meeting their own needs, the needs of each other, and the needs of their children. There is a sense of cohesiveness, good conflict management, clear rules and expectations, and parents who lead by example.

No family is perfect, and there are degrees of dysfunction. Most slightly dysfunctional families operate reasonably well – they become accustomed to a few minor unhealthy behaviours and adapt to maintain the family’s balance.

But highly dysfunctional families are built on rocky foundations where the building blocks of boundaries and trust are haphazard or completely absent. Relationships in highly dysfunctional families are tense and confusing. There is often neglect, conflict, secrecy, denial, and misbehaviours. In some, there is extreme control, threats, or actual violence, inducing a constant state of fear and worry.

What happens in addictive behaviour?

Addictive behaviour is a chronic condition that involves repeatedly engaging in an activity despite negative consequences – these can be physical, emotional, or financial. Process addictions are complex mental disorders.

Addictive behaviour is characterised by:

• Loss of control
• Compulsive engagement
• Intense focus and craving
• Increased tolerance (a need for more of the action to achieve the same level of satisfaction)

Addictive behaviour isn’t easy to stop because it causes changes in the brain.² Addiction stems from the brain’s primitive reward system, which is essential for survival. Eating, for example, triggers a pleasurable surge of dopamine, encouraging you to eat again.

However, in addictive behaviours, the reward circuit gets overwhelmed with an oversized response – a surge of dopamine. There is a heightened sensation of pleasure, setting the person up for reinforcement. Repetitive behaviour forms to get the same pleasurable feeling. 

Over time, the brain’s reward circuit becomes less sensitive, so more of the same behaviour is needed to get the same sense of pleasure (or high).

Behaviour addiction, just like substance or alcohol addiction, is a psychological disease.

It is well-known that chronic changes in the brain’s reward system play a significant role in the neurobiology of addiction.³ 

Research suggests that those suffering from behavioural addictions experience a higher sensitivity to reward and a lower sensitivity to punishment. 

A study of college students found abnormal processing of rewards and punishments in an internet-addiction group, which showed weaker punishment sensitivity and stronger reward sensitivity than the non-addiction group.⁴

What causes addictive behaviour

Genetics accounts for roughly half of a person’s risk of addiction.⁵ But addiction is a family disease.

Family dysfunction creates fertile ground for the development of drug and alcohol addiction and addictive behaviours. Many studies support a strong connection between childhood adversity and the development of addiction.⁶

In dysfunctional families, there are higher ACE scores (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Adults with high ACE scores are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression, trauma, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

In dysfunctional families, parents can’t provide effectively for the emotional, psychological, social, and academic needs of their children, leading to mental health, behavioural and social challenges.

Dysfunctional families are often chaotic and unpredictable. This can affect children in several ways. There are poor boundaries. A child can become burdened with feeling emotionally responsible for a parent. Or they can model behaviour, seeing it as normal (gaming, for instance).

In a family unit where love, understanding, encouragement, and nurturing are absent, individuals can seek solace in repetitive activities. This is an unhealthy coping mechanism – a way of dealing with difficult family dynamics and emotions.

Research shows that one of the precursors to behavioural addiction is the presence of psychopathologies such as depression, substance dependence or withdrawal, and social anxiety, along with a lack of social support.⁷ 

In dysfunctional families, behavioural addictions are often rooted in trauma, neglect, and unmet emotional needs. There is physical evidence to support this. Early life stress has neurobiological consequences.⁸ 

Chronic and extreme stress can influence psychological development and neural behaviour, leading to dysregulation of stress-response systems. 

Multigenerational patterns of addiction, extreme family conflict, abuse, physical violence, or emotional detachment can lead to isolating behaviours and withdrawal. In these situations, a young person can devote themselves to a personal interest and form addictive behaviours.

“Specific emotion dysregulation mechanisms common to gambling, food, and social media addictions include poor control of impulses when upset, and poor clarity about emotions.”⁹ 

The family context, therefore, plays a pivotal role, especially when there is hostility, inconsistency, and inappropriate boundaries.

Family dysfunction and addictive behaviours across different life stages

How addictive behaviours manifest in childhood

In childhood and early adolescence children often model the behaviours of their parents. If addictive behaviours are present in the parents, a child perceives these behaviours as normal. Also, where there is inconsistent parenting, neglect, or abuse, children can seek comfort and escape through addictive behaviours and also try and stay under the radar or out of the way.

How addictive behaviours manifest in adolescence and early adulthood

During adolescence and early adulthood, individuals in dysfunctional families may seek support and validation from peers, some of whom may also display addictive behaviours. 

We know that emotional, physical, or sexual abuse can significantly increase the risk of a person developing addictive behaviours later in life. Adolescents in dysfunctional families may engage in addictive behaviours to cope with stress or other negative emotions.

Do you have a behavioural addiction? 

If you are experiencing the following, you may have a behavioural addiction:

• You are preoccupied with thoughts about the activity or behaviour and can’t wait to do it again
• You continue with the behaviour despite damaging consequences
• You feel euphoria when engaging in the activity
• You are spending more time engaging in the activity or behaviour to feel the same high
• The activity or behaviour is interrupting everyday life
• You feel out of control and are unable to stop
• You are being secretive or lying to friends and family about behaviours

Treatment for addictive behaviours at CALDA

At CALDA, we understand that addictive behaviours are just the tip of the iceberg. Behavioural addiction is a deeply rooted psychological illness. It has nothing to do with weakness of character.

Our award-winning treatment programs for addiction address the underlying causes, such as emotional neglect or childhood trauma.

The causes and effects of addiction disorders are highly varied and complex from person to person, so we use a multimodal approach in the treatment of dependence. This is a holistic approach in which effective and proven therapy methods from different disciplines are combined in a finely tuned way to suit your individual needs and circumstances.

Find out more about our programs here. Alternatively, please contact us for a preliminary chat about your challenges and to learn more about how we can help you bring balance back into your life again.

References/sources:

1. Cohen, K & Jones, C. 02 Dec 2022. The Role of Psychological Resilience and Family Dysfunction in the Relationship Between Parental Behavioural Addictions and Adult Mental Health.
2. Yale Medicine. 25 May 2022. How an addicted brain works. [Accessed online 11Aug2024]
3. Torres-Berrio, A. 21 Dec 2018. Interaction Between Stress and Addiction: Contributions From Latin-American Neuroscience. V9. Front Psychol. Sec. Emotion Science.
4. Weiqi H, et al. Oct 2017. Abnormal reward and punishment sensitivity associated with Internet addicts. V75. P678-683. Computers in Human Behavior.
5. Mosel, S. (Edited by Manwares Generes W). 7Feb2024. Is Drug Addiction Genetic? [Accessed online 07Aug2024]
6. Giordiano, A. 25 Sep 2021. Why Trauma Can Lead to Addiction. Psychology Today. [Accessed online 09Aug2024]
7. Alavi SS, et al. Apr 2012. Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views. Int J Prev Med.
8. Smith, K.E., Pollak, S.D. 16 Dec 2020. Early life stress and development: potential mechanisms for adverse outcomes. J Neurodevelop Disord 12, 34.
9. Lim, M. S. M., et al. 2019. Childhood adversity and behavioural addictions: the mediating role of emotion dysregulation and depression in an adult community sample. Addiction Research & Theory, 28(2), 116–123.