Addictive personality
The term "addictive personality" refers to a proposed set of personality traits that may increase an individual's risk of developing addictive behaviors. While it is not formally recognized in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5, this concept suggests that traits such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and emotional dysregulation may contribute to the development or maintenance of addiction. These behaviors extend beyond substance use to gambling, internet use, compulsive eating, and shopping.
The validity of addictive personality as a construct remains controversial, with some researchers arguing that these traits may emerge as a consequence of addiction rather than serve as predictors, and that the term itself lacks a consistent definition. Despite this controversial status, studies have found links between certain personality profiles and specific types of addiction, suggesting that a more nuanced relationship exists. Genetic factors are also recognized as significant contributors to addiction vulnerability, with research estimating that 40% to 70% of individual variation in addiction risk is heritable.
Etiology
The following factors are believed to influence addiction susceptibility.Psychological factors
- Impulsivity
- Sensation seeking
- Nonconformity combined with weak commitment to socially valued goals for achievement
- Social alienation and tolerance for deviance
- Heightened stress coupled with lack of coping skills.
Some claim the existence of "addictive beliefs" in people more likely to develop addictions, such as "I cannot make an impact on my world" or "I am not good enough", which may lead to developing traits associated with addiction, such as depression and emotional insecurity. People who strongly believe that they control their own lives and are mostly self-reliant in learning information are less likely to become addicted. However, it is unclear whether these traits are causes, results or merely associated coincidentally. For example, depression due to physical disease can cause feelings of hopelessness that are mitigated after successful treatment of the underlying condition, and addiction can increase dependence on others. Certain psychological disorders such as panic attacks, depressive disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder have been related to addiction. The addicted person, who struggles with reality and feels negative feelings, such as anxiety and depression, will seek out ways to help them avoid such feelings. A study based on social cognitive theories, included a personality-targeted intervention that was shown to help treat substance addiction. It is feasible that by changing certain elements of one's personality, one can gain a step in the right direction towards changing their addictive personality.
Genetic and biological factors
Research has explored possible biological and genetic contributions that are often linked to a vulnerability to addiction. Twin and adoption studies have shown that genetic factors may account for 40-60% of the risk for alcoholism and other substance-related disorders, with environmental influences playing a stronger role in early adolescence and diminishing over time.Certain personality traits associated with addictive behaviors such as impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and sensation-seeking have been linked to genes receptive of dopamine and nicotine, including DRD2 and CHRNA5. For example, the CHRNA5 gene has been associated with a reduced aversion to nicotine, possibly due to its impact on the brain's habenula region. This may reinforce the continued consumption of nicotine products by reducing the negative sensory experience of early use.
Biological factors have also been found through experimentation on rats. Rats with higher locomotor responses to novel environments were found to be more likely to self-administer stimulant drugs in laboratory settings, indicating a possible genetic predisposition toward drug reinforcement behaviors.
Recent research has further highlighted the role that genetic and biological factors play in traits such as impulsivity and reward sensitivity. A 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health identified shared genetic markers across a variety of substance use disorders, emphasizing how involved genes are in regulating dopamine signaling pathways. Further studies have implicated the CADM2 gene in impulsivity and reward-related behaviors. Variants in this gene have been associated with increased risk-taking and sensation-seeking traits, which are considered potential risk factors for developing addictive behaviors.
Environmental factors
Studies have found numerous environmental factors that correlate with addiction. Exposure to sustained stress in childhood, such as physical or sexual abuse, especially accompanied by unpredictable parental behavior strongly correlates with drug addiction and overeating in adulthood. Children who tend to react to distress in a more rash way have been linked to becoming more likely to drink and smoke in their adolescence. Results from this research found that this was because the reaction to distress affected psychosocial learning, which led to increased expectancy to drink or smoke. A lack of social interaction has also been shown to correlate with addictive tendencies; rats reared in isolation were quicker to develop a pattern of cocaine self-administration than rats reared in groups. There is a gene/environment connection in that individuals with particular personality traits may self-select into different environments, e.g., they may seek out work environments where addictive substances are more readily available.Description
can be defined as an excessive amount of time and resources spent in engaging in an activity or an experience that somehow affects the person's quality of life. An addictive personality is when those addictive behaviors progress and change as the individual seeks to produce the desired mood.People that face this issue are currently defined to have a brain disease as promoted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and other authorities. People who experience addictive personality disorders typically act on impulses and cannot deal with delayed gratification. At the same time, people with this type of personality tend to believe that they do not fit into societal norms and therefore, acting on impulses, deviate from conformity to rebel. People with addictive personalities are very sensitive to emotional stress. They have trouble handling situations that they deem frustrating, even if the event is for a very short duration. The combination of low self-esteem, impulsivity and low tolerance for stress causes these individuals to have frequent mood swings and often suffer from some sort of depression. A coping mechanism to deal with their conflicting personality becomes their addiction and the addiction acts as something that the person can control when they find it difficult to control their personality traits.
People with addictive personalities typically switch from one addiction to the next. These individuals may show impulsive behavior such as excessive caffeine consumption, Internet use, eating chocolate or other sugar-laden foods, television watching, or even running.
Extraversion, self-monitoring, and loneliness are also common characteristics found in those who suffer from addiction. Individuals who score high on self-monitoring are more prone to developing an addiction. High self-monitors are sensitive to social situations; they act how they think others expect them to act. They wish to fit in, hence they are very easily influenced by others. Likewise, those who have low self-esteem also seek peer approval; therefore, they participate in "attractive" activities such as smoking or drinking to try to fit in.
People with addictive personalities find it difficult to manage their stress levels. In fact, lack of stress tolerance is a telltale sign of the disorder. They find it difficult to face stressful situations and fight hard to get out of such conditions. Long-term goals prove difficult to achieve because people with addictive personalities usually focus on the stress that comes with getting through the short-term goals. Such personalities will often switch to other enjoyable activities the moment that they are deprived of enjoyment in their previous addiction.
Addictive individuals feel highly insecure when it comes to relationships. They may often find it difficult to make commitments in relationships or trust their beloved because of the difficulty they find in achieving long-term goals. They constantly seek approval of others and as a result, these misunderstandings may contribute to the destruction of relationships. People suffering from addictive personality disorder usually undergo depression and anxiety, managing their emotions by developing addiction to alcohol, other types of drugs, or other pleasurable activities.
An addict is more prone to depression, anxiety, and anger. Both the addict's environment, genetics and biological tendency contribute to their addiction. People with very severe personality disorders are more likely to become addicts. Addictive substances usually stop primary and secondary neuroses, meaning people with personality disorders like the relief from their pain.