Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is the Role of an Enabler?Common Signs of Enabling BehaviorUnderstanding Enabling BehaviorTypes of EnablersEffects of EnablingRecognizing and Addressing Enabling BehaviorBreaking the Cycle of Enabling

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is the Role of an Enabler?

Common Signs of Enabling Behavior

Understanding Enabling Behavior

Types of Enablers

Effects of Enabling

Recognizing and Addressing Enabling Behavior

Breaking the Cycle of Enabling

Offering a parent living with diabetes a piece of cake they’re not supposed to eat. Helping your friend cheat on a test. Giving a family member living with a substance use disorder the money to buy drugs. Covering up for a colleague’s consistently poor performance. Making excuses for apartner’s excessive drinking habits.

These are all examples of enabler behavior.

At a Glance

Enabler behavior involves encouraging someone to do things they shouldn’t do, pretending like there isn’t a problem, helping them cover up their mistakes, and allowing them to keep doing what they’re doing instead of calling them out on it.

According to the American Psychological Association, an enabler is someone who permits, encourages, or contributes to someone else’s maladaptive behaviors.

Enabling behaviorcan look different for everyone, but it’s essentially when someone makes up excuses for a loved one and allows their negative behaviors to continue, saysKelsey Rower, RN, Director of Nursing at the Atlanta Detox Center.

Recognizing the pattern of enabler behavior is important because it can help us understand the role the enabler is playing in the person’s harmful habits. Breaking this pattern can be the first step toward breaking the cycle of harmful behavior.

These are some common signs of enabling behavior:

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Below, we explore the motivations and psychological factors behind enabling behavior.

Motivations Behind Enabling Behavior

Motivations for enabling behavior can be complex and multifaceted, often involving a combination of factors. These are some common motivators:

—KELSEY ROWER, RN

Psychological Aspects of Enabling

These are some of the psychological factors that may contribute to enabler behavior:

Often, people are unaware they are enabling their loved ones and have good intentions.—KELSEY ROWER, RN

Often, people are unaware they are enabling their loved ones and have good intentions.

These are some of the different types of enablers:

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Enabler behavior can have negative consequences for the enabler and the person they’re enabling. It’s basically a lose-lose situation for everyone involved.

Negative Consequences of Enabling Behavior

These are some of the negative consequences the enabler may face:

Long-Term Effects on the Enabled Individual

These are some of the negative consequences the enabled person may face:

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Recognizing and addressing enabler behavior is an ongoing process that requires self-awareness:

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If you have been engaging in enabler behavior, these are some steps you can take to break the cycle:

How Family Therapy Works

Takeaways

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3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Enabling.Razaghi E, Farhoudian A, Pilevari A, Noroozi A, Hooshyari Z, Radfar R, Malekinejad M.Identification of the socio-cultural barriers of drug addiction treatment in Iran.Heliyon. 2023 Apr 18;9(5):e15566. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15566Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013 Dec;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Enabling.Razaghi E, Farhoudian A, Pilevari A, Noroozi A, Hooshyari Z, Radfar R, Malekinejad M.Identification of the socio-cultural barriers of drug addiction treatment in Iran.Heliyon. 2023 Apr 18;9(5):e15566. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15566Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013 Dec;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Enabling.Razaghi E, Farhoudian A, Pilevari A, Noroozi A, Hooshyari Z, Radfar R, Malekinejad M.Identification of the socio-cultural barriers of drug addiction treatment in Iran.Heliyon. 2023 Apr 18;9(5):e15566. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15566Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013 Dec;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038

American Psychological Association.Enabling.

Razaghi E, Farhoudian A, Pilevari A, Noroozi A, Hooshyari Z, Radfar R, Malekinejad M.Identification of the socio-cultural barriers of drug addiction treatment in Iran.Heliyon. 2023 Apr 18;9(5):e15566. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15566

Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013 Dec;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038

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