To the Question of Profession Addictions

Abstract

Dependent or addictive behavior is a form of deviant behavior, which is expressed in the striving for escaping from reality by changing own mental condition by means of taking certain substances or permanent fixation of attention on certain objects or activities, accompanied by the development of intense emotions and has defensive nature. Until recently, was actual the problem of chemical addictions such as tobacco-smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, dependence on stimulants, etc. However, it is now no doubt that the dependence can develop not only on the substance use, but also from various types of activities (or data flows) that bring immediate pleasure. The current list of such behavior addictions, according to some authors, amounts to about a thousand of different addiction to “causes” (the genes of addiction) that induce the formation of pharmacological disease of addiction. In the present circumstances, there is a notable aspiration of people for being mostly oriented toward career and professional achievements. Accordingly, a profe­ssional person spends more time at work and dedicates less time to other areas of their lives. Thus, similar way of workaholic life makes a turn to one side of certain pro­fessional activity, makes a skew that may lead to large problems in other areas of life and broken psychological health. Professional addictions in a pathological form of manifestation are becoming more common phenomenon, and this means that there are more people in need of psychological help. Therefore, one of the most important present practical problems − to promote good work-related health of specialists, pro­fessional addictions prevention and formation of harmoniously developed personality.

Keywords: addiction, addictive behavior, professional addiction, workaholism, professional laziness, learned helplessness, procrastination, professional perfectionis­mand, urgent professional relationship, professional marginalism.