What Is an Addictive Personality?

An addictive personality is a hypothetical set of personality traits that may make a person more susceptible to addiction. While the term is quite popular, the concept itself is controversial and there is a lack of consistent evidence supporting the existence of an addictive personality. Many experts dispute the concept and suggest that it promotes stigma.

Purported Addictive Personality Traits

While definitions of the term vary, the term addictive personality is usually used to suggest that people with certain clusters of personality traits are more likely to develop addictions. The term also suggests that people with this personality type engage in repetitive pleasurable actions and choose them over other important activities.

People who engage in these behaviors supposedly have a higher risk of developing addictions to food, sex, gambling, shopping, alcohol, and other substances.

While there is no clear consensus about what these traits are, they often include traits such as:

• Impulsivity
• Insecurity
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Not conforming to social norms
• Poor coping skills
• Poor self-esteem
• Selfishness
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Thrill-seeking or sensation-seeking
  

The Myth of the Addictive Personality

Some personality traits have been linked to different types of addictive behaviors. However, it is important to remember that addiction is a complex brain disorder that is the result of a variety of factors.

Genetic factors can play a large part in determining susceptibility to addiction, but other variables including family history, upbringing, environment, socioeconomic status, and drug availability also play a role in a person's risk of addiction.

Not only is the label not supported by research, but it also promotes the idea that people who develop addictions are all the same, which plays a role in stigmatizing and marginalizing people who have addictions.

The concept of the addictive personality comes down to the idea that some people develop addictions due to flaws in their personality or character. It suggests that some people are simply more likely to develop addictions due to these supposed characteristics and traits.

Current views stress that addiction is an illness, not a character flaw. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic, treatable medical condition that is caused by a complex interaction among genetics, brain circuits, environments, and life experiences.

Research on Addictive Personalities

While current views dispute the concept of addictive personalities, some research indicates that certain traits may increase the likelihood of a person developing addiction. 

• One study found that higher levels of impulsive behaviors are associated with a higher risk for substance use.
• Another study found that nonconformity, sensation seeking, and a higher tolerance for breaking social norms are linked to a higher risk for addiction.

However, researchers note that this does not mean people have "addictive personalities." Not everyone who exhibits these characteristics develops addiction, and not everyone who develops an addiction has these traits. Addiction is complex and multifaceted, with many factors interacting to play a role.

Research has shown, for example, that people experiencing addiction are more likely to report anxiety, depression, alienation, and social discomfort. Another study found that people with addictions tend to have dysfunctional beliefs and poor stress-coping methods.

Why the Addictive Personality Concept Is Harmful

Critics of the term addictive personality suggest that the concept of an addictive personality is a harmful myth that contributes to mental health stigma.

The problem is that it takes a very complex, multifaceted issue and reduces it down to a simplistic explanation. Critics of the idea of the addictive personality also suggest that it:

• Leads people to underestimate their risk: Believing that there is an addictive personality type may cause people to believe that they are not at risk for developing an addiction. People mistakenly assume that because they don't have "addictive traits," that they aren't at risk.
• Contributes to negative stereotypes about people with addictions: The term can also stigmatize people with addiction and can cause people to think that all people with addictions possess a certain set of negative traits. 
• Reduces motivation to change: If people believe they have an addictive personality, it may play a role in reducing self-efficacy. People may assume that they are simply prone to addiction and that there is little they can do to prevent or overcome it.

Known Risk Factors for Addiction

While research has not supported the existence of an addictive personality, researchers do know that there are a number of non-personality-related factors that do increase the risk of developing an addiction. Some of these include:

• Genetics and family history: Studies have shown that addictions have a strong genetic component. Certain traits such as impulsivity and novelty seeking can also be inherited, and lead to an increased risk for addiction. However, having those traits or having a family history of addiction does not necessarily mean that you will develop an addiction.
• Environmental factors: Certain environmental variables are also tied to an increased risk for addiction, including poverty, access to drugs, and trauma. Lifestyle factors such as engaging in habits that contribute to addiction may also increase your risk.
• Mental health conditions: Having another mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also increase your risk for addiction.

Other factors, including parental substance use, impulsivity, social isolation, and spending time with substance-using peers can also increase your risk for developing an addiction.

Addiction is complex and can affect anyone. While some personality characteristics are sometimes associated with certain types of addiction, a combination of genetic, individual, and environmental factors plays the most crucial role in the onset of addiction.

Addictive Behaviors vs. Addictive Personality Traits

Rather than focusing on personality traits when considering addiction risk, it may be more beneficial to observe and examine behaviors. If you tend to have a higher risk for developing addiction due to some of the factors above, engaging in certain habits or behaviors may be more problematic for you.  

Comfort Eating

Comfort eating is a common way to make yourself feel better when you are disappointed, stressed, or overwhelmed. While comfort eating is not harmful in moderation, if it becomes a habit, it can contribute to obesity, food addiction, and binge eating.

Using Alcohol to Socialize

Socializing is one of the top reasons heavy drinkers give to explain their overindulgence in alcohol. A beer or a glass of wine can seem like a quick and easy way to lower inhibitions and have a laugh with friends. But all too easily, alcohol can become the only way to get along with people, leaving you feeling bored or anxious in situations where everyone is sober.

Staying Hyperconnected

Checking your email or Facebook account every hour or more, never letting your cell phone out of reach, surfing the internet every time you have a spare moment: While these activities might seem normal these days, they can lead to problems with internet addiction.

Using the internet for sex, gambling or shopping can lead to more complex addictions.

Using Sex to Replace Intimacy

It might seem contradictory to suggest that sex could replace intimacy. But people who are addicted to sex tell a different story: Constantly seeking sexual arousal and gratification can actually distance you from your partners, as you lose yourself in the sensations of the sexual experience, rather than being aware of the feelings of the other person.

Buying Things to Feel Better

Overshopping can be caused by a lot of things. But one of the main reasons compulsive shoppers give for running up retail debt is the boost they get when they think the new clothes, the new shoes, and the new gadgets will change who they are and make them better people. But as soon as they are yours, the objects feel worthless.

Self-Medicating With Drugs

Pain, trauma, and difficulty sleeping are some of the psychological problems that people commonly try to treat with drugs. It doesn't help that every one of these problems has at least one medication that claims to cure the problem. But at best, medications provide temporary relief. If you depend on them, you will very likely become addicted to the medication.

Using Marijuana to Relax

Tense? Anxious? You may have found that a joint can help you relax at the end of a stressful day. The problem is that weed has a rebound effect that increases anxiety after it wears off. It can also interfere with your motivation in life or trigger serious psychological problems.

Tips for Avoiding Risky Behaviors

If you are concerned about your risk for addiction based on your behaviors or habits, there are things you can do to help you manage the problematic behavior.

• Practice self-care: Instead of overeating, for instance, nurture yourself through restorative activities, such as meditation, taking a relaxing bath, or getting a good night's sleep.
• Socialize without alcohol: Instead of using alcohol to connect with others, connect through common interests or activities that you enjoy. When everyone around you is drinking, learn how to say no to alcohol and how to host a party without your guests getting drunk.
• Build strong relationships: Even if you haven't felt addicted to sex, listening to your partner express their feelings may help strengthen your relationship as much as, or even more than, having sex.
• Limit your screen time: Try to limit your non-work screen time to two hours per day. And make sure that, at least during sleeping hours, you are unavailable.
• Work on building yourself up: Instead of bolstering your ego with possessions, work on building self-esteem.
• Get help for mental health concerns. Accept that while you may never overcome these difficulties entirely, your quality of life will be much improved by letting go of the idea that it can be cured with a pill.
• Use relaxation techniques to lower stress: The younger you are, the riskier it is to use substances like marijuana. But even for older folks, the idea that using a substance is the best way to relax is, overall, incorrect. Instead, look to healthier methods of stress management and relaxation.

Don't wait to get a handle on your addictive behaviors. It's a myth that you have to hit rock-bottom before you can put your addiction behind you. You may have a personality that craves living large, but it doesn't have to be unhealthy. Talk to a doctor about getting the help you need, and start living life the way you really want to.