Addiction as Entrenchment

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What makes such entrenchment possible in the first place?

Being conflicted about what to do for long stretches of time is not the natural state of any mind. It is an anti-skill ~everyone learns in their youth.

The chain smoker from my example is conflicted about smoking, right? Yet continues to do it anyway. Where do people learn to do things they don’t want to do?

#753 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 7 months ago · context · ← 1st of 5 versions → · Criticized1

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If it were so clear to the chain smoker that he didn’t want to smoke he’d just stop. Having an internal conflict just means that you’re not sure what to do. You can come up with reasons for and against stopping or continuing.

If he knows he doesn’t want to do it, that sounds like he doesn’t feel conflicted about wanting to do it. Being conflicted is simultaneously wanting it and not wanting it.

(Amaro Koberle)

#755 · · Dennis HackethalOP revised 7 months ago · ← 2nd of 2 versions → · Criticism of #753

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