A Clinical Case Study on the Developmental Process of Addictive Behaviors from a Psychological Perspective: Proposal of Early Prevention Probability

Abstract

This article aimed at building a comprehensive hypothesis on the origin and developmental process of addictive behaviors based on facts obtained from the author’s clinical experience. A woman with a variety of addictive behaviors was introduced as an instance. Not only childhood adversity which contribution already had been proven in the development of addiction, the author also focused on psycho-social obstruction during adolescence, more specifically, that of constructing peer relationships as well as that of renewing the relationship with parents crucial for passing through the second individuation process (Blos, 1967). Furthermore, how the obstruction related to the adversity during early life was discussed. At the end of the article, reference was made to possible benefits in adulthood brought about by intervening with adolescents who are at high risk of addictive behaviors.