Some Traditional Addictions

Just as is true for each of these several “traditional” addictions, for some individuals aggression is:

  1. A long-term, repetitively used, unusually stable behavior. The chronically aggressive youngster is exceedingly likely to become a chronically aggressive adult.
  2. A behavior that provides short-term satisfaction but long-term problems. Beyond mere satisfaction or pleasure, some youths even describe an addiction-like, physical “rush” accompanying their violent acts.
  3. Frequently accompanied by denial: “I didn’t do it,” or “I didn’t mean it,” or “I didn’t start it.” Such denial, minimizing and attribution of responsibility to others is the smoker’s song, the drug addict’s rejoinder, the aggressor’s frequent response.
  4. Described as behavior that is difficult to control, very hard to reduce, and at times, feels like a compulsion. When some time passes without aggression, there are likely to be frequent relapses and a return to aggressive actions.
  5. Used for a variety of reasons, including relieving stress, dealing with unpleasantness from others, altering a negative mood, and reducing a heightened level of physical arousal.
  6. Sustained not only by its quality of “feeling good,” but also by the encouragement and support of others, many of whom could be described as friend and family “enablers.” Such encouragement is also often provided by mass media portrayals and community traditions. These are common American themes:
    • Drink beer!
    • Bet on the lottery!
    • Light up a smoke!
    • Don't take lip from anybody!
  7. A preoccupation they have with the use of the behavior by other people be it drug taking, gambling, or aggression. Chronic aggressors, for example, watch much more television violence than do others less prone to such behavior.
  8. A behavior that results in a high level of health risk, risk of injury, and even death.

If it does prove to make sense to consider aggression as addictive behavior, then what is known about the causes of other addictions and their cures may someday aid us in better understanding what motivates the chronically violent individual and how we may best prevent or reduce such damaging behavior.

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