According to this model of addiction, some people may find it harder to resist developing addictions than others, and those with addictive personalities are inherently more likely to have an addiction than the rest of the population.

However, the concept is controversial, and many addiction experts argue it is harmful.

No major health organization recognizes addictive personality as a medical diagnosis.

What the research says

While health organizations do not endorse the idea of addictive personalities, there is some evidence that certain traits may make addiction more likely.

A 2018 study of 109 mostly male participants found that impulsive behaviors correlated with a higher risk of addiction. Impulsivity may increase a person’s likelihood of taking risks or using substances, thereby elevating their risk of becoming addicted.

A 2019 paper also highlights some other traits and behaviors that researchers have linked to addiction, including sensation seeking, nonconformity, and tolerance of behavior that breaks social rules.

However, the 2019 paper also emphasizes that most researchers oppose the idea of addictive personalities because it is deterministic. In reality, addiction is a complex, multifaceted illness related to many factors.

For example, there is also an association between addiction and temporary emotional states, such as feeling stressed or alienated. People not having the opportunity to learn healthier coping skills for dealing with these emotions may also play a role.

A 2021 study of 94 people with addictions aged 14–32 living in Switzerland, France, and Quebec observed similar trends. Participants often reported alienation, discomfort in social situations, anxiety, or depression.

An insecure attachment style was also common in this group. This occurs when a person does not develop a secure attachment with their main parental figure during childhood, which then affects their relationships and ways of coping with adversity throughout life.

For complete article go to What is an addictive personality? Risk factors and myths (medicalnewstoday.com)

(Dalgarno Institute Comments: You will note the repetition of the entrenched definitions of addiction as an ‘illness’ that are the presuppositions of this article.

It is interesting that substance dependency/addiction is one of the only ‘illnesses’ that behaviour change can end. Yes, indeed, it is a complex maelstrom of factors, that involve much more than mere biochemical interactions and disrupted brain anatomy.

You will notice that all the factors that may contribute to this psuedo-medical condition are behavioural issues.  All behaviours are learned, so they can be unlearned. Of course, once psychotropic toxins are part of the mix they may only add to or amplify, poor impulse control, inability to delay gratification and the externalizing of blame that can also all spring from selfishness, laziness, pride and other egocentricities – all character flaws that does make walking back out of this mess more difficult, but not ‘incurable’ (to stay with the disease motif).

If we are to remove stigma properly, then we must empower agency and capacity again in the whole person – Body, Mind and Soul.

‘Illness’ models, we now understand only disempower the former humanity enhancing aspects and lead to a further capitulation, not rejuvenation. Better health and well-being require not mere triage and damage management, but a full anthropologically based suite of human recalibration process.

A broader scope of understanding is needed and drug use exiting vehicles, and their attending capacity building measures are key not simply to ‘managing a sickness’ but exiting a disorder that no longer has to have dominion over the individual.)

See Drug Use, Stigma and Proactive Contagions to Reduce Both.

Communications Team – Dalgarno Institute