- Why is learning addictive?
- Symptoms of learning addiction
- Possible consequences of addiction to science
- How to help someone who learns too much?
Workaholism is a well-known term. Currently, however, we are beginning to talk about a related phenomenon, concerning slightly younger people - addiction to learning. Dependence on acquiring knowledge may result in a constant feeling of exhaustion, but also increases the risk of depression or anxiety disorders. How to help a child addicted to learning?
The COVID-19 pandemic not only highlighted the mental he alth problems already existing in the population, but also contributed to the emergence of new difficulties - just mention the disorders that have started to appear in children in connection with remote learning. More than one scientist has analyzed the changes in people's behavior resulting from the advent of a serious epidemiological threat in the world - many of these works concerned the issue of addiction.
Rather, experts focused on how the pandemic affected people's use of various psychoactive substances. It turned out that for some of them their consumption increased, and for others it decreased. In the past, addiction was associated with the use of various substances, now it is known that you can become addicted … to anything else.
In the context of addiction in children and adolescents, attention is usually paid to addiction to computer games, drugs or a mobile phone. Currently, however, psychologists are starting to pay attention to a problem that has so far been mentioned by few people - learning addiction. Why is learning addictive?
Why is learning addictive?
The development of behavioral addictions occurs when some repetitive activity - shopping, playing computer games or physical activity - leads to the feeling of incredible pleasure or even euphoria. However, this is not really enough to make a person addicted to something - usually the problem arises when he is unable to cope with the emotions he experiences and looks for some ways to stop dealing with the stress he feels.
Given the above, it should slowly become clear why learning can be addictive. Getting top class grades, praisefrom teachers or parents can be a source of even great pleasure.
Nowadays - especially in the last grades of a given school - educators put a lot of pressure on students, telling them that their entire future may depend on what results they get at a given moment.
Ultimately, when a young person is able to acquire all the knowledge that he thinks he should gain, he can feel satisfied with himself.
An additional phenomenon that may contribute to the emergence of addiction to learning is the satisfaction with preparation for each lesson. It gives the child a sense of control and self-control over his own school situation.
Symptoms of learning addiction
The fact that learning and related behaviors have become a problem can be convinced by the observation of several aspects in the student. One of the reasons convincing that a teenager learns pathologically may be that when he or she has free time - e.g. due to holidays or vacations - it is difficult for him to find any kind of work.
It is certainly also worrying that when things are lacking to learn, the student becomes irritable, has difficulty concentrating or depressed mood.
Just as preparation for the final exams at the end of high school can be considered fully justified, the situation where a teenager starts talking about them on the first day after starting secondary school definitely may indicate an excessive interest in learning.
It should also be disturbing to notice that the student is not really able to talk about anything other than learning.
Possible consequences of addiction to science
Basically, you might think that a learning addiction could be a dream come true for demanding parents - after all, thanks to this, their beloved child would gain not only good, but in fact the best grades. In reality, however, excessive interest in science does not bring any benefits, and it can, in turn, cause various problems.
A teenager addicted to learning can lose control over himself, and when he or she should definitely go for a night's rest, he or she can continue studying until he has mastered all the material for the next test.
In the short term, such a procedure may result in the blight of the night and fatigue and problems with concentration the next day, but in the long term it may lead to many different, serious problems.
The first observations of specialists indicate that with learning addictionthere may be an increased risk of including depressive disorders or anxiety disorders. So the problem is definitely serious and you should start paying attention to it.
How to help someone who learns too much?
Pay attention to the fact that the student spends far too much time with books, both his teachers and parents can. When suspecting such a problem, it is worth acting as soon as possible - early intervention may prevent the consequences of addiction to learning.
The first thing you need to talk to your child is: it may turn out that even a short conversation will allow him to look at his behavior from a different perspective and he will sometimes allow himself some necessary moments of rest.
However, when all conversations do not bring results, it becomes necessary to reach for specialist support - in the first place it is worth going to a psychologist with the teenager.