4 ms·

> Addiction is measured not by what or how much you do, but by negative impact it has on one's life. I always found this odd, and it sounds more like a proxy b

• PeterisP 8y ago
  It kind of does measure the real thing which I'd define as "the strength of addiction" for which the only honest measure is to compare the addiction with what you're willing to give up for it. If your actions show that you're willing to give up major things in life for that addiction, if you know that it's harming your life but still go on, then you're addicted. If your actions show that you're not willing to give up major things in life for that addiction and you actually can and do put it aside whenever needed, then you're not addicted. If you never really had to choose, possibly because it's not harming your life yet, then we don't know and can't know if you're addicted, as it's very subjective and talk/expressed opinion is not a reliable predictor of what you'd actually do. Furthermore, that's in line with the general understanding of how we distinguish between "simple" conditions, behaviors and genetic differences versus diseases and disorders - the key factor is whether it's causing harm and distress.
• majewsky 8y ago
  When your definition of addiction is based on how often you do it, you end up with everyone being addicted to breathing.