Do "Addictive Personalities" Doom Some People to Lifelong Dependencies and Compulsions?

By Hugh C. McBride

The term addiction gets thrown around a lot these days - in many cases, as an improper substitute for extreme affection or enthusiasm.

We all know someone who claims to be “addicted” to chocolate, golf, Lost, the Boston Red Sox or some other apparently innocuous object, event or experience. On the other hand, many of us also know people whose enthusiasms seem to be frighteningly similar to addictions - friends or family members who appear incapable of dedicating anything less than the proverbial 110 percent to any pursuit.

Now, we’re pretty sure that it’s impossible to become physically addicted to a snack food or a television show - but is it possible that some people’s natural tendency toward obsession actually predisposes them to forming unhealthy dependencies to myriad aspects of their lives?

In other words, is there really such as thing as an addictive personality? And if there is, can it be overcome?

The Complex Nature of Addiction

In the world of drug abuse, certain substances (such as methamphetamine and heroin) are much more likely than others (for example, marijuana and LSD) to lead to addiction.

But the fact that not everyone who uses a highly addictive drug such as heroin eventually develops an overwhelming urge to continue use indicates that addiction doesn’t depend solely on the properties of the substance, but on the interplay between the drug and the user.

In recent years, researchers have employed increasingly sophisticated technologies to enhance their understanding of the nature of addiction, including why some people can use certain substances without developing dependency, and how these substances interact with the brains of the people who abuse them.

Common Aspects of Addiction

Scientific inquiries into the brain’s role in addiction are hardly a 21st century phenomenon. For example, in a Jan. 18, 1983, New York Times article, writer Bryce Nelson reported that a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study had identified the following four personality traits as increasing a person’s likelihood of becoming an addict:

Impulsive behavior, difficulty in delaying gratification, an antisocial personality and a disposition toward sensation seeking.
A high value on nonconformity combined with a weak commitment to the goals for achievement valued by the society.
A sense of social alienation and a general tolerance for deviance.
A sense of heightened stress. This may help explain why adolescence and other stressful transition periods are often associated with the most severe drug and alcohol problems.

Dr. Alan R. Lang, the Florida State University psychology professor who led the NAS research effort, told Nelson that while his conclusions pointed toward attributes that are common among many addicts, they do not establish a one-size-fits-all definition of an addictive personality.

''There is no single, unique personality entity that is a necessary and sufficient condition for substance use,'' Dr. Lang said in the Times article.

The Genetic Component

More recent studies have shed light on the role of genetics in making a person more or less susceptible to developing an addiction.

In an Oct. 16 Fortune article, contributor Claudia Lackey reported on genetic research conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA):

Large-scale studies of twins provide strong evidence that addiction ranks "among the most heritable of mental illnesses," says Dr. David Goldman, who heads the [NIAAA’s] Laboratory of Neurogenetics. …

"If you have a twin who uses cocaine, it makes you more likely to use heroin. If you have a twin who uses tobacco, you are more likely to use alcohol," Goldman explains.

Even the tendency to try a dangerous, illegal drug like crack or heroin is partially under genetic control. For instance, an area on chromosome 11, associated with taking risks and seeking novel experiences, lies near a region that has been linked to addiction.

When combined with the right combination of environmental stimuli, Lackey reported, this hereditary bend toward addiction can lead to problematic behavior.

“Researchers like to point out that, as with other ailments linked to lifestyle - heart disease, obesity, and lung cancer, for example - genes merely load the gun, while the environment pulls the trigger,” she wrote.

Treating People Who Are Prone to Addiction

Clearly, just as some drugs are more likely to lead to addiction, so too are certain people at greater risk for developing dependencies, addictions or compulsions. Whether you choose to describe this phenomenon as “addictive personality,” “high risk” or even “bad luck,” what is most important to remember is that effective treatment emphasizes behaviors and results, not labels.

Regardless of genetic composition, brain chemical balance or external factors, no one is doomed to spending life in the throes of addiction. From a variety of therapy-based treatments to a range of medically assisted addiction recovery protocols, many options offer the opportunity to overcome addiction and pursue a healthy, compulsion-free life.

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Do "Addictive Personalities" Doom Some People to Lifelong Dependencies and Compulsions?