For too long we’ve used the phrase ‘addictive personality’ to refer to those predisposed with an increased likelihood of addiction.
But a study by Alan Lang, a psychology professor at Florida State University has found that there are four traits which make a person more likely to develop an addiction.
The four traits are:
- Impulsiveness and "difficulty in delaying gratification."
- Strong preference for nonconformity.
- Feeling socially alienated.
- Prone to high levels of stress.
According to Vice, Lang stated that "there is no single, unique personality entity that is a necessary and sufficient condition for substance abuse.” Similarly, having these four traits does not mean someone is certain to have an addition, the study simply found that those with addictions displayed high incidences of these traits.
The study is interesting as it reveals that addiction is likely influenced by a mixture of genetics and environmental conditions.
Other factors that contribute to addiction include a difficulty in comprehending emotions.
“Difficulty in identifying feelings, distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal, and describing feelings to other people,” says Lang.
Lang further states that the influence of emotions is significant.
“The emotional aspects of addiction are quite complex. Some persons use alcohol or other drugs or pathologically pursue other rewards because they are seeking “positive reinforcement” or the creation of a positive emotional state. Others pursue substance use or other rewards because they have experienced relief from negative emotional states, which constitutes “negative reinforcement.“ Beyond the initial experiences of reward and relief, there is a dysfunctional emotional state present in most cases of addiction that is associated with the persistence of engagement with addictive behaviors,” says Lang.
