Compulsion and Addiction in Modern Society

Abstract

The search for substances that provides an alteration of consciousness has been a typical trait seen in all civilizations. However, after modernity that tendency assumes its current compulsive dimension. The damages created by that specific way of consumption (drug abuse), those substances began to look as the main cause of a lot of misfortunes in modern age, being this point of view continually exposed by the mass media through soap operas, movies, news, and others. Seen by the governmental agencies as disconnected with the reality of exploration and disorder within capitalism. We see in this behavior an intention to hide some of the causes of addiction through harmful interpretations. The present work aims to contribute in revealing some causes of those misunderstandings, starting from a critical approach of our current conjuncture. At the present article, we will use bibliographical references as methodological approach, making use of different areas of knowledge such as Psychology, Sociology and Medicine, trying to elaborate an introductory understanding of this complex phenomenon. Keywords: Compulsion; Capitalism; Addictions; Modernity.