Willpower

Willpower is typically defined as an individual's ability and determination to control his or her own behavior. Historically, there has been much debate about whether insufficient or weak willpower is a cause of addiction or relapse. The current consensus among experts is that addiction is a biopsychosocial disease, meaning that a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors influence its occurrence.

The extent to which addiction is viewed as a problem of willpower has implications for whether individuals with addictions are viewed as responsible or blameworthy for their substance use. The viewpoint that addiction is a willpower, moral, or misconduct problem results in prejudice against individuals with addictions and promotes the myth that individuals who abuse substances do so entirely by choice. In contrast, the viewpoint ...