Addicted individuals – alcoholics, for example – behave in ways that are counterproductive both for themselves and those they care most about. Trying to explain these rogue habits in terms of their benefit doesn’t seem to work. We need a new insight. 

Oddly, comparing rogue habits to cancer may help. The way self-destructive patterns  pop up in our behavior is reminiscent of the development of self-destructive cells within our bodies. Cancer provides a useful analogy for understanding the development of parasitic habits like addictions, because both involve normal components of a system that escape their regulation to become harmful to their host. Interestingly, the escape happens in a comparable way.

Cancer cells behave in sophisticated ways. But they don’t do it “on purpose.” They are a product of a mindless evolutionary process of variation and selection. Likewise, parasitic habits don't develop through a conscious choice to engage in self-destructive behavior, but through a process of variation and selection.

In this podcast Deep Divers Mark and Jenna evaluate the idea of “cancerous habits” in a lively discussion based on Tom Whitehead’s upcoming book, Reimagining Psychology.