This is http://www.essayz.com/a8906272.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %ADDICTS BELIEF TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVE CONTROL SERENITY 890627 Addicts are addicted to the belief that there is some technology by which they can achieve satisfaction, joy, serenity, tranquility, salvation, etc. Addicts believe that through more effort they can prove that their belief is well founded. If one technique/fix does not do the job, another one will do the job. If an addict is convinced that one technique for achieving the desired form of control will not work satisfactorily, the addict is bound by belief to seek a more effective technique; giving up one form of addictive fix for another form of addictive fix which the addict believes will be more effective. So long as the root belief in the possibility of achieving satisfaction, joy, serenity, tranquility, salvation, etc. through some manipulative technique persists, so long addictive behavior patterns will persist. Addictive behavior patterns do not achieve the desired effects. When the desired for effect is not achieved the addict seeks new kinds of techniques to achieve control over appearances, perceptions, beliefs, etc. If reality can not be controlled, the next best thing is to try to achieve control over appearances, perceptions, beliefs, etc. regarding reality. There are many possible deceptive techniques by which to make it appear that control has been achieved. By getting others to participate in collusive games of mutual self deception it will seem to some that success is being achieved. Then reality appears to be what one wants it to be. The more people who agree to the appearance, the more convincing is their belief in the achievement of the desired form of control. Addictive behavior patterns can be garbed in the appearance of responsibility, if responsibility is defined in terms of conformity to agreed to patterns of behavior, rather than in terms of open and honest patterns of personal response. Responsible people can be defined to be those who are responsibly in control according to legalistic/moralistic rules and laws regarding what is good and what is evil. Addicts believe that they have responsibly eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that they know what is good and what is evil. They do not live in the Garden of Eden where people are naive and childish, they live outside the Garden of Eden where people know enough to be self righteous. Addictive behavior patterns can be garbed in the appearance of respectable scholarly and scientific work; if respectable scholarly and scientific work is defined in terms of conformity to dominant paradigms for research and refereed publication, promotion, tenure and nobel recognition. Addictive behavior patterns can be garbed in the appearance of dedicated religious service; if such service is defined in terms of rescue of addicts who fail to take care of themselves, and refuse to be honest about their failures to be responsible/responsive regarding their repetition of mistakes without ever learning from their mistakes in failing to love themselves in healthy ways. Addictive behavior patterns can be dressed up in the uniforms of patriotic military service which is designed to defend violent games of mutual self deception; if those games are sufficiently well identified with being patriotic and supportive of the provincial government and its narrow interests. When addicts find that they cannot control reality, they try to control the appearances of reality. Then addictive patterns of behavior are dressed up to appear to be desirable patterns of behavior. Codependent people are seduced into playing supportive roles in collusive games of mutual self deception which make their supportive roles appear to be worthy of great respect; even though in reality they are contributing to personal and communal disintegration through dishonesty. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================