Addictive Personalities
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The term “addictive personality” is often casually tossed
around, and it’s not uncommon to hear someone claim they have one. Perhaps you
suspect that you might have one yourself. But is there even such a thing as an
addictive personality? If so, what characteristics are typical to an addictive
personality? Do environmental and/or genetic factors play a part? What is it about
having—or not having—an addictive personality that makes it possible for some
people to use alcohol or drugs and not become addicted?
An addictive personality is essentially a set
of characteristics that makes an addiction more likely to manifest itself. An
estimated 10 to 15 percent of the population has an addictive personality,
according to Stephen Mason, PhD, in a blog post on Psychology
Today 1. That said, research about addictive
personality is ongoing, and experts are divided on whether or not addictive
personality actually exists. Some argue that personality is fluid and
ever-changing 2, and others maintain that there are a variety
of traits present in those who end up with an addiction that may indicate an
addictive personality 1,3. The topic is so divisive, even the Wikipedia
page on addictive personality has a disclaimer at the top stating that there is
an ongoing dispute about the neutrality of the article 4.
An estimated 10 to 15 percent of the
population has an addictive personality
Personalities are complex, and when you add
stimulation factors into the mix, they can get even more complicated. Often the
pleasure center of our brains craves something to calm us if it is
over-stimulated or something to ramp us up if under-stimulated.5
These attempts to balance stimulation often result in addiction.
William Drinkwater, a therapist, speaker and adjunct professor of addiction
counselor education at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, has noticed
that certain patients, especially those who already have an affective disorder
such as bipolar disorder, tend to have more issues with addiction and will
often trade one addiction for another. These particular patients also have a
propensity for impulsiveness, he says, particularly in early recovery.
Characteristics
There are certain personality traits that
those with addiction issues appear to share that may apply to a potential
addictive personality as well 6. The most universal
of these traits are impulsiveness; a tendency to be sneaky or deceptive;
insecurity, particularly in relationships; anxiousness and/or depression; a
general feeling of being ungrounded; a tendency to react emotionally rather
than rationally; a love of and need for excitement; and a dislike of delaying
gratification 7.
Genes or Environment?
Evidence points to both genes and environment as contributing
factors for fostering addictive personality and addiction, though whether it
leans more heavily toward one or the other depends on the school of research
you subscribe to, says Drinkwater. “Am I anxious because I drink, or do I drink
because I’m anxious? It becomes ‘yes’ (to both) because you need to deal with
both at the same time,” he says.
An article published in Alcohol
Research & Health by Dick and Agrawal shows considerable evidence
that genetics influence the risk of addiction by 50 to 60 percent 8. The article also reveals that researchers have discovered
several groups of genes that may have an effect on a person’s predisposition to
addiction, similar to any other disease. This could help lead to early
detection in the future.
Genetics influence the risk of addiction by 50
to 60 percent
Why Some and Not Others?
How can some people drink, gamble or try drugs
and not become addicted while others struggle with addiction? No one knows the
exact answer to this question, but it seems to be a combination of genes,
environment, social influences and personality. There also appears to be a
psychological element involved in addiction as it often occurs either in
conjunction with a psychological disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive
disorder, depression or bipolar disorder, or in response to trauma or
stress 3. Other factors, such as the age at which a
person first uses a substance, the amount of emotional support a person has from
his or her family, and whether or not there are other addicts in the family,
can also play a big role 9.
Bottom Line
Even if addiction runs in your family or you seem to exhibit
many of the personality traits associated with having an addictive personality,
it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you are fated to become an
addict.
“I know families where you have four or five alcoholics and then
you have one with no addiction issues whatsoever,” Drinkwater says. “They maybe
have the gene, but it doesn’t come out for whatever reason.”
Understanding
the risk factors can help people who suspect that they or a loved one possesses
an addictive personality to be aware and perhaps begin to address these issues
early in the process before addiction takes hold.
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