I don't think it's a disease, it's just learned behaviour. Kids copy their parents, and thats how the cycle goes on. Its people's environment. Calling it a "disease" is a bit of a cop out and makes it seem semi-acceptable almost when it clearly is not. Cancer is a disease. Alcoholism is addiction-no one makes people pick up alcohol or drugs or whatever. They do it to themselves. It's like saying smoking is a disease