The Truth About ‘Addictive Personalities’ - Time Magazine

What's your personality like? There are scientifically validated ways to learn more about yours (though they’re not perfect). But there are also plenty of descriptors that can lead people astray.

One of these is the notion of an “addictive personality,” meaning a single profile of a person who’s at risk for developing an addiction. People often use this term to explain why someone overdoes it with alcohol or other substances, or with habits like shopping or gambling. Likewise, people sometimes claim they don’t have an addictive personality to justify why they feel they can imbibe, consume, or participate in certain acts without restraint..

But experts say there’s actually no such thing as an addictive personality. “The idea that people can have a specific personality type that makes them prone to addiction has been around for a long time, but it’s not scientifically supported,” says Ryan Carpenter, a substance-use researcher and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame.

Despite decades of research on this issue, scientists haven’t been able to identify a personality type that reliably predicts whether someone will have problems with excessive use of alcohol or other substances. “The story is way more complicated than the label ['addictive personality'] suggests,” says Dr. Manassa Hany, division director of addiction psychiatry at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside and South Oaks Hospitals.

And there are risks to putting stock in the concept of an addictive personality, according to experts. It might give someone a false sense of security if they believe they don’t have an addictive temperament, or it may make someone reluctant to seek help if they’re overdoing it with a particular substance or behavior because they believe they’re not predisposed to having an issue, says Hany.

On the other hand, “if we label people as having an addictive personality, that can be harmful,” Hany adds. “It can cause even more stigma and judgment for those who fit the stereotype.”

“Addiction is something that can happen to anyone,” says Dr. Ryan Marino, an associate professor of emergency medicine and psychiatry at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland. “It’s a complex interplay between genetics, our internal biology, physiology, and psychology, and external factors. None of those individual things is the determining factor. It can be a combination of any of those factors.”

While the concept of an addictive personality is not backed by scientific evidence, some research suggests that certain individual traits—but not a single personality “type”—are linked to a higher risk of developing an addiction. Research has found, for example, that impulsivity plays a role in all types of addictive disorders, and drug and alcohol-use disorders tend to be more common among people who score lower on measures of agreeableness and extraversion. People who are sensation-seekers or novelty-seekers also have a higher risk of developing an addiction, according to research.

Other studies have revealed a link between neuroticism and a higher risk of developing different addictions, and there appears to be a connection between compulsivity and a greater risk of behavioral addictions (such as gambling).

In addition, having depression, anxiety, loneliness, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can increase the risk of developing an addiction, says Carpenter. So can having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Experiencing trauma during childhood also can increase the risk, adds Hany.

People with borderline personality disorder have an increased risk of developing a substance-related disorder or addiction at some point in their lives, and the same is true of those with anti-social behavior, Carpenter says.

None of these risk factors adds up to a single personality type. And one of the things that makes these connections tricky is there’s a two-way street between personality elements and addiction, notes Carpenter. “Somebody who is using a substance is caught in a cycle that can impact behavior and how they interact with people.”

Family history and genetic factors can play a part, as well, says Robert Leeman, a psychologist and addiction researcher and a professor in the department of public health and health sciences at Northeastern University. “Fifty percent of one’s risk has to do with family history,” he estimates.

There isn’t a single known gene that predisposes people to developing an addiction. And if substance-use disorders or other addictions run in your family, that doesn’t mean you’re destined to develop one. But it is something to be aware of. “If you have addiction in the family, you’ve got to be a bit more careful,” says Hany.

On the other hand, certain factors seem to protect people from developing an addiction. These include having stable housing and economic security, a sense of meaning and purpose in life, and strong social connections, Hany says. But these aren’t a guarantee, either—and they’re not limited to one type of personality.

“The issue with addiction is it creeps in,” says Hany. “It’s a very gradual process.” That’s why it’s important to be alert to signs that a problem may be developing. For a substance-use disorder, these criteria include having impaired control over substance use; an impaired ability to fulfill obligations at work, home, or school; persistent use despite negative consequences from it; or having cravings or a pressing desire to use the substance.

“The more substance use starts to take up more of your time or take over all aspects of your life, the more likely you are to have problems with it,” says Carpenter.

Your individual response to consuming alcohol, for example—which has nothing to do with personality—can also affect your risk. “People who are at risk for problems with alcohol have a greater than average level of stimulation from alcohol and a dampened sedative response,” says Leeman. “They get more of the good and less of the bad effects.”

If you suspect you could be developing a problem with substance use or a behavior, seek help early, advises Hany. And if you have a mental-health condition or chronic pain—either of which could increase your risk of developing a substance use-disorder—seek treatment for them, he urges. With interventions, “the majority of people with addiction recover,” says Hany.