Alcoholism - Part V

Psychological Factors
Alan R Lang has done much research on personality traits that play into addiction.
While his research found that there is no single set of traits that is definitive of an
“addictive personality", he did find several “significant personality factors”. These main
factors are:
impulsivity
value on nonconformity combined with weak commitment to socially valued goals
for achievement
sense of social alienation and tolerance for deviance
heightened stress and lack of coping skills
Some advocate for the existence of an “addictive belief system” that leads people
towards being more likely to develop addictions. This system is rooted incognitive
distortions like “I cannot make an impact on my world” and other maladaptive attitudes
like “I am not good enough.” These core beliefs, often very black and white thinking, set
up the person to develop the many traits common in the addictive personality, such
as depression and emotional insecurity. Cognitive and perceptual styles also have been
shown to play a role in addictions. People with addictions and addictive personalities
tend to have an external locus of control, and they also have an increased tendency
towards field dependence. However, it is unclear whether these are causative traits or
simply personality traits that tend to be found in people with addictions.
Environmental Factors
Specific genes predispose people to drug addiction—it's one of the behavioral disorders
most strongly correlated with genetic makeup—but environmental factors, especially
trauma and mistreatment in childhood, also correlate strongly with addiction. Examples
such as physical or sexual abuse, and unpredictable expectations and behavior of
parents, increase a person's risk for developing addiction.
Interaction of Biopsychosocial Factors
In looking at these traits separately, it is also necessary to look at them all together. For
example, psychological traits related to addictive personality include depression, poor
self-control, and compulsive behavior, which are all also linked to neurotransmitter
deficiencies, showing both a psychological and biological basis for these traits and
behaviors. Likewise, there is a gene/environment connection in that individuals selfselect
into different environments. This self-selection is based partially on personality
traits, and the selected environments may or may not include increased risk for
addictive behaviors. An individual might seek out environments where addictive
substances are more readily available, which can also explain how addictions in these
people can cross from one to another.
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