Over the past few decades, there has been a fundamental shift in the understanding of addiction in psychology and neuroscience. Traditionally, addiction has been viewed as aCompulsive substance use, such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine, etc., but today, we are increasingly aware that:Addiction is not just "substance dependence", but also a behavioral adaptation strategy after the imbalance of psychological mechanism.It can appear in almost all areas of daily life and manifest in various forms.

1. From “Substance Addiction” to “Behavioral Addiction”

Traditional addiction research has focused primarily on substance dependence, especiallydrug addiction(substance addiction), such as:

• Alcohol dependence
• Heroin, cocaine and other drugs
• Abuse of sleeping pills and sedatives
• Nicotine addiction

These addictions have clearPhysical withdrawal symptoms、Increased tolerance(needs more and more to produce results),High relapse rate after withdrawaland other features.

But in recent years, researchers have begun to notice thatMany behaviors that don't involve any external substances also display the same neural mechanisms and psychological patterns as addiction.This is the so-called "behavioral addiction” (Behavioral Addiction), including:

• Internet and mobile phone addiction
• Gaming addiction
• gambling addiction
• Pornography addiction
• Work addiction
• Shopping addiction
• Overeating or compulsive dieting

These behaviors may seem “routine” or even “efficient”, but when they becomeThe only outlet for emotional regulation, and cause obvious life obstacles, they are no longer "habits" but belong to the category of psychological pathology.

2. The Psychological Mechanism of Addiction: Dysregulation of Control + Hijacking of the Reward System

Whether it’s a substance or a behavior, the essence of all addictions can be boiled down to two key words:

1. Loss of Control

IndividualKnowing it's harmful, but unable to stopA behavior or a behavior that you try to control but fail repeatedly. For example:

• "Just checking my phone" turns into three hours
• "Last time buying" but bought again
• "One more gamble to make up for the loss" but got deeper and deeper into trouble

This is a kind of relationship between psychological control and actual behavior.fracture.

2. Hijacking the Brain's Reward System

Addictive behaviors continuously stimulate the brain'sdopamine system, causing short-term pleasure, thus causing the brain to form "path dependence":

• Negative emotions ➝ Dependent behavior ➝ Pleasure/relief ➝ Strengthen memory ➝ Repeat faster next time

Over time, other healthy reward mechanisms (such as interpersonal relationships, learning achievements, and natural experiences) become unable to meet the brain's need for excitement, leaving the addict to rely solely onStronger and more frequentGet pleasure from stimulation.

3. Relationship Dependence: The Most Insidious Yet Most Prevalent Form of Addiction

Beyond substances and behaviors, there is a more subtle but destructive form of addiction—Codependency.

This refers to the individualContinued emotional attachment, control, and self-sacrifice to a relationship, even if the relationship is damaging or draining. This can manifest in:

• Fear of being abandoned and a strong need for constant confirmation of love from a partner
• Tolerating cold violence, betrayal and even harm, just to maintain "someone is there"
• Using other people's emotions as a guide for your own behavior
• Excessive concern for "what others think" and even losing yourself

Relationship dependency is common among people who have experienced childhood emotional neglect, family dysfunction, or trauma. They often regard relationships as a necessity for survival.Dependence on the responses of others.

IV. Assessment Criteria for Addiction: Four Core Characteristics

In clinical and psychological assessments, the following four aspects are usually used to determine whether addictive behavior exists:

1. Compulsive: Inability to control the onset, frequency, or intensity of a behavior;
2. Increased tolerance: It takes longer and stronger stimulation to achieve the same effect;
3. withdrawal symptoms: Once the behavior is reduced or interrupted, there will be obvious anxiety, irritability, and emptiness;
4. Impaired function: Life, work, health, interpersonal relationships and other areas are significantly affected.

If a behavior meets more than three of the above items and lasts for more than six months, it is highly suspected to be an "addiction state."

5. Why is addiction difficult to identify?

Many addictive behaviors are difficult to take seriously because of their “social legitimacy” or “routineness.” For example:

• Working long hours is seen as "dedication" but is actually work addiction
• Frequent use of social media platforms is often praised as "keeping up with the times," but is actually attention addiction.
• Over-reliance on emotions is mistaken for "affectionate," but is actually relationship dependence.

To further complicate matters, addictive behaviors are often linked toShame and self-blameSo tightly interwoven that individuals tend to hide, deny, or rationalize:

• “I just like it.”
• “I can control it, it’s not an addiction.”
• "This isn't illegal, so what's the problem?"

therefore,The first step in identifying addiction is to remove the stigma and misunderstandings about addiction., admitting that it is a manifestation of psychological distress rather than a moral defect.

VI. Enlightenment from the Broad Concept of Addiction

When we understand "dependence and addiction" from a broad perspective, we will realize that:

• Many of our seemingly "normal" behaviors in daily life may be quietly replacing our ability to face pain, anxiety, loneliness, and helplessness;
• The efficient and addictive pace advocated by many social cultures is actually cultivating a psychological "dependent personality";
• True self-care is not about suppressing desires or forcing yourself to quit, but aboutLearn to recognize, understand, and replace coping mechanisms that no longer serve you.

In the course, we are not trying to make everyone "quit" all addictions, but to help studentsIdentifying "harmful dependencies", and gradually build up a more autonomous, gentle and effective inner regulation ability.