[1] As a positive term, "enabling" describes patterns of interaction which allow individuals to develop and grow in a healthy direction.
[1][2] A common theme of enabling in this latter sense is that third parties take responsibility or blame, or make accommodations for a person's ineffective or harmful conduct (often with the best of intentions, or from fear or insecurity which inhibits action).
[5] Enabling may be observed in the relationship between a person with a substance use disorder and their partner, spouse or a parent.
Enabling behaviors may include making excuses that prevent others from holding the person accountable, or cleaning up messes that occur in the wake of their impaired judgment.
Enabling may be driven by concern for retaliation, or fear of consequence to the person with the substance use disorder, such as job loss, injury or suicide.