What Is Compulsiveness in Psychology?

Compulsions are repetitive rule-bound behaviours that the individual feels must be performed in order to ward off distressing situations.

What is an example of compulsion in psychology?

Typically, the individual feels driven or compelled to perform the compulsion to reduce the distress associated with an obsession or to prevent a dreaded event or situation. For example, individuals with an obsession about contamination may wash their hands repetitively until their skin is cracked and bleeding.

What does compulsiveness mean?

1 : having power to compel forced to resort to compulsive measures. 2 : of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession compulsive actions a compulsive gambler compulsive eating.