When a person shows excessive obsession to any activity and witnesses intrusive thoughts then he or she is likely to suffer from compulsive behavior. This type of behavior makes a person perform an action repeatedly because he or she is unable to suppress his or her desires- these desires are often unbeneficial for the person. Compulsive behavior is not similar to physical addiction like drug or alcohol dependence; however it is still very dangerous and should not be ignored (O'Guinn & Faber, 1989, p. 147-150).
The wide range of compulsive behaviors includes the routine activities that somehow dominate the life of the sufferer. For example, eating, gambling, counting, checking, washing, hoarding, shopping, sex, internet use, exercise or work. Researchers suggest that compulsive behaviors produce ‘beta-endorphins’ in the brain, which makes the individual feel high. (Winnail, para 5) Therefore, to experience that feeling over again, individuals become addictive to a certain activity.
People suffering from compulsive behaviors are commonly found in today’s modern society. Due to the advent of media, the human lives have drastically changed as compare to what they used to be just 50 years ago. Media has given each and every individual a chance to be fully independent. Every person can now live his or her life according to his or her wishes. Nevertheless, with freedom comes the risk of addiction. Media does not show the true picture of the world but it shows what most people want to see. It is not serving its true purpose, which is to make the world a better. Instead it only concentrates on ways through which people working in media industry can earn more money. Media tells people that the only way to become successful in life is to become rich and beautiful. (Engs, 1987, para. 4-6) This has made our age more competitive. Those individuals who fail to compete well in this competition become susceptible to psychological diseases like anxiety and compulsive behaviors. The only way to stop this disease from spreading further is to cure it at the grass root level. If the government impose rules and regulations on the media then patients suffering from compulsive behaviors are likely to reduce.
References
Engs, R.C. (1987). Alcohol and Other Drugs: Self Responsibility, Tichenor Publishing Company, Bloomington, IN. (c) Copyright Ruth C. Engs, Bloomington, IN, 1996, 2012
O'Guinn, T. C., & Faber, R. J. (1989). Compulsive buying: A phenomenological exploration. Journal of Consumer Research, 147-150.
Winnail, D. How The Media Mold The World. Retrieved from: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/node/622
