Compulsive behavior may result from emotional disorders, biological differences or social pressures. Some compulsive behaviors may start out innocently, but develop into harmful practices that become difficult to overcome. The behavior requires treatment when problems become severe and interfere with people's daily lives and those around them. Understanding the causes may help in the treatment process.
Brain Function
Differences in brain structure may produce the behaviors of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with the disorder become obsessed with unpleasant thoughts that lead to compulsive actions, such as repeatedly checking locked doors, frequently washing hands throughout the day because of a fear of germs or constantly arranging items in a specific order. Researchers at Cambridge University took brain scans of people with the disorder, their family members and people in a control group, according to the Daily Mail in Britain. The research indicated a genetic risk factor involving regions of the brain that control abilities to suppress thoughts and actions.
Imbalances
Compulsive sexual behavior may occur because of imbalances to brain chemicals that regulate moods. Diseases may damage parts of the brain that affect sexual function to cause compulsive behavior. Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and dementia may cause brain changes that result in compulsive sexual behavior, according to MayoClinic.com. Sex addicts may create changes in the brain through their addiction to the behavior. As with other addictions, the brain sends signals that cause pleasant reactions during sexual behavior and unpleasant responses when the behavior stops.
Environment
Social pressures may lead to compulsive behaviors later on in life. Obsessive-compulsive disorder may result from childhood events that may cause certain people to follow the practices they were taught to excess, such as keeping everything clean and in order. People with compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder may have had parents who comforted, rewarded or punished them using food. Children criticized about their weight may grow up with compulsive eating disorders.
Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem can cause compulsive behavior. Compulsive liars often have low self-esteem and make up fantasies about themselves to look better to other people, according to LoveToKnow. Compulsive liars may become addicted to the excitement of deceiving others or find they can get something through lying. Low self-esteem and loneliness may lead to compulsive overeating because of poor self-image learned from childhood.
Personality
Certain personality disorders may cause compulsive behavior. People unable to distinguish between right or wrong have antisocial personality disorder, also called sociopathic personality disorder, MayoClinic.com notes. The disorder results in people behaving violently, having substance abuse problems or compulsively lying. Sociopaths may have developed their behaviors because of an environment they grew up in or from inherited tendencies.
