A bad attitude in adults cannot be caused by adolescence. Usually, it’s alcoholism.
In response to a comment following up the last blog entry in which the writer points out that the cause of most “I am always right and you are wrong” attitudes is adolescence, I said:
You’re correct in assuming that the most common cause of an “I am always right and you are wrong” attitude is adolescence. However, by definition, that cannot be at the root of this attitude (and others like it) in adults.
Recovering alcoholics tell us that their emotional growth stopped the day they triggered alcoholism–average age in the U.S., 13. Therefore, when we deal with alcoholics, we deal with emotional adolescents. Now, reverse the idea. If an emotional teen is observed in an adult body, look for alcoholism. In my research, I have found that alcoholism explained this attitude and others even more destructive about 80% of the time; in other words, when able to delve deep enough, I am able to prove alcoholic or addictive use in four times out of five when misbehaviors, in the broadest sense of the term, are observed.
By the way, when I refer to alcoholism in the teen years, I am pointing to a different definition of alcoholism than that commonly accepted. The common one requires loss of control over use. The one that allows for early identification of addiction requires loss of control over behaviors. Destructive behaviors in one form or another, including irrational argumentation, can be found at or near the get-go in alcoholics and gets worse until sobriety occurs, which can be decades later.
To give an idea of how few are looking for “early stage alcoholism,” just do a google search for the phrase. You’ll find me all over the place, with few others even mentioning the concept.