Religious bigotry after Brussels: Still not ok. | Editorial

[muriel_volestrangler]

52. There's a difference between "enabler" and "accomplice", however

Are You an Enabler?

Enabling is a term often used in the context of a relationship with an addict. It might be a drug addict or alcoholic, a gambler, or a compulsive overeater. Enablers, rather than addicts, suffer the effects of the addict’s behavior.

Enabling is “removing the natural consequences to the addict of his or her behavior.” Professionals warn against enabling because evidence has shown that an addict experiencing the damaging consequences of his addiction on his life has the most powerful incentive to change. Often this is when the addict “hits bottom” – a term commonly referred to in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Codependents often feel compelled to solve other people’s problems. If they’re involved with addicts, particularly drug addicts, they usually end up taking on the irresponsible addict’s responsibilities.

Their behavior starts as a well-intentioned desire to help, but in later stages of addiction, they act out of desperation. The family dynamics become skewed, so that the sober partner increasingly over-functions and the addict increasingly under-functions.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/are-you-an-enabler/

The meaning of 'accomplice' always includes the same wish as the perpetrator for the outcome; not so for an 'enabler'. Accusing someone of being an accomplice to terrorism is different from calling them an enabler of terrorism.