Codependency

In <a href="/facts/Psychology/duoqW7Sz">psychology</a>, codependency is a theory that attempts to explain imbalanced <a href="/facts/Interpersonal_relationship/rxgcYdBC">relationships</a> where one person <a href="/facts/Enabling/oYgRfn42">enables</a> another person's self-destructive behavior, such as <a href="/facts/Addiction/76UrWQuT">addiction</a>, poor <a href="/facts/Mental_health/QIszfk6D">mental health</a>, <a href="/facts/Maturity_(psychological)/3C9aP6GE">immaturity</a>, <a href="/facts/Social_responsibility/qbUYRHa4">irresponsibility</a>, or <a href="/facts/Underachiever/lTqzzhBr">under-achievement</a>.
Definitions of codependency vary, but typically include high <a href="/facts/Self-sacrifice/CV6dr920">self-sacrifice</a>, a focus on others' needs, suppression of one's own emotions, and attempts to control or fix other people's problems.
People who self-identify as codependent are more likely to have low <a href="/facts/Self-esteem/vaMskKL0">self-esteem</a>, but it is unclear whether this is a cause or an effect of characteristics associated with codependency.

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Codependency