Talk:Codependency

Wiki Education assignment: Family Aspects of Disability spring 2022

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 11 January 2022 and 25 April 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Anaescudero78 (article contribs).

"Inverted narcissism" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Inverted narcissism has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 April 7 § Inverted narcissism until a consensus is reached. Jay 💬 17:01, 7 April 2025 (UTC)

What’s with the verbiage?

Codependency denotes an unhealthy relationship where the harmful actions of the partners create a feedback loop that results in repeated harm, sometimes on one partner sometimes the harm is mutual. Yet, this article consistently refers to the receiver as codependent. Both partners are codependent, it’s literally in the name. This construct essentially victim blames the person being harmed. It’s unhelpful constructs like this by uncaring professionals that makes people being colonized by narcissists reluctant to get help. Can an expert please change this phrasing to be less dehumanizing and humiliating for people being hurt? That would be great! 50.76.140.45 (talk) 17:48, 16 May 2025 (UTC)

The origin of the term "codependent" is in association with observations about the behavior of some people who were in close relationships with people experiencing substance use disorders. The person with the SUD was "dependent", and based upon a set of alleged behaviors they displayed in association with the relationship the other person who allegedly might be deemed "codependent". It was advanced as a diagnostic label for that person. Arllaw (talk) 21:17, 16 May 2025 (UTC)

Does it apply to relationships where there isn’t substance abuse? Specifically in relation to dysfunctional personality traits such as narcissism and extreme altruism? 50.76.140.45 (talk) 16:22, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

It was originally about substance abuse.

But the entire term is poorly defined, with no diagnosis criteria. And without a diagnosis criteria it is almost impossible to study.

This has lead it to scope creap to now pathologize love and all relationships.

There is also a huge problem in that co-dependency doesn't address the underlying problems (addiction or personality disorders), and the term "co-dependency" often masks the actual problems, or distracts people from getting help. ~2026-38119-2 (talk) 10:51, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

Theories Section

The content pertaining to relationships could and should be better developed based upon WP:RS sources. The content under "personality disorders" and "family dynamics" is underdeveloped and of questionable value as presently written. Arllaw (talk) 06:20, 20 July 2025 (UTC)

Co-dependency is not a medical term, it is a marketing term.

This article is missing the elephant in the room. It really touches on some topics (like the history of the term), but as it dives deeper it starts to miss the forest through the trees. But at the end of the day, this term is more about pop-psychology and selling books then actually helping patients or people. The history should also speak about how it is a result of extreme individualism. And how a focus on co-depenedency leads to weighing relationships, which has contributed to the largest divorce rates and the loneliness epedemic we see.

• the theories section should include that many co-dependency theories will pathologize all relationships.
• the theories section could be expanded indefenitaly, as the term is so losely defined that there is no way to really use the term.

~2026-38119-2 (talk) 11:01, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

We present content on Wikipedia from a neutral point of view, WP:NPOV, so while it is possible to introduce that sort of content it must be supported by reliable sources and avoid issues of undue weight. Arllaw (talk) 20:51, 26 January 2026 (UTC)