In the last episode of this series, we described self-repeating, malignant behaviors – habits such as alcoholism and anorexia nervosa – as true diseases. In fact, these patterns of behavior have many of the features of viruses. Like viruses, they are simple patterns – so simple that they can get themselves repeated only by exploiting the capabilities of their hosts. They begin as normal habits, but they escape our control. They end up acting like parasites, with us as their hosts. 

Today’s psychology doesn’t support the idea of parasitic habits. But it should. Psychology is a part of biology, its mother science. In biology, parasitism is everywhere you look. It would be wise, then, to expect parasitic forms in our behavior. As we struggle to understand how a habit could turn parasitic, we should consider the origin of biological viruses. Because virus-like habits come about in pretty much the same way.