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An addiction to knowledge develops when the child is first made to feel that “my feelings don’t matter.” The coping mechanism becomes a variation on “I will make my thoughts Important.”

At around what age do you figure this happens?

it's whenever someone is first made to feel "stupid" and worthless because of that stupidity. e.g. in east asian cultures this usually happens at a younger age due to emphasis on academics both in the family environment as well as the schooling environment.

When a parent of a 5 month old baby just "let's the child cry it out", you don't think that's a candidate for the child to be made to feel like her feelings don't matter and are to be ignored?

that could create subconscious desire for popularity, co-dependent relationships, fame, status, power, etc... imo the specific 'addiction to knowledge' cope occurs when 'doing sth smart' gets a reaction/praise and it snowballs from there.