discussion title:
Potential Causes of Codependency
Dysfunctional families are a major cause of codependent behavior. In these cases, some sort of abuse or misbehavior, such as alcoholism, may be perceived as normal. A great deal of attention in these families is focused on the person who has an addiction or other problem. As a result, codependent family members may not develop a strong sense of identity and may be less developed emotionally.
more: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/codependency.html?pageNum=3#3