An Overview of the Historical and Empirical Antecedents in the Development of the Codependency Concept

SUMMARY

This paper offers a general overview of the historical and previous empirical studies leading up to the contemporary conceptualization of codependency theory. In addition the author includes a seemingly lone research attempt to examine a major personality trait universally attributed to codependents-their hypothesized diminished capacity for intimacy.

The current concept of codependency was used to understand the non-alcoholic spouse's behaviors and psycho-pathology in relation to his or her alcoholic spouse. This so-called diagnostic entity has been broaded to include, in addition, non-alcoholic relationships where the codependent selects a mate incapable of engaging intimate relationship. Therefore a pathological interactional syndrome develops locking the codependent into certain self-defecting behaviours which are psychogenetically connected to, and resonate with, the codependent's dysfunctional family of origin. This paper docuses primarily on women, or codependents, who are married to alcoholics.