GENERALLY SPEAKING? –
April 23, 2019 – There’s no evidence to suggest that people with the traits mentioned above have a higher risk for addiction. That’s not to say that certain personality traits aren’t related to addiction. For example, traits associated with borderline and antisocial personality disorders may be linked to higher rates of addiction.
However, the nature of this link is murky. Addiction can cause changes in the brain. As one 2017 research article points out, it’s not always clear whether the trait developed before or after addiction. At first glance, the concept of an addictive personality might seem like a good tool for preventing addiction. If we can identify those who have the highest risk, wouldn’t that make it easier to help them before they develop an addiction?
But boiling the complex issue of addiction down to a personality type can be harmful for several reasons: It can lead people to falsely believe they aren’t at risk because they don’t have the “right personality” for addiction. It may make people who have an addiction think that they’re unable to recover if addiction is “hardwired” into who they are. It suggests that people experiencing addiction exhibit traits that are generally considered negative, such as lying and manipulating others.
