The concept of addictive personality is often used to explain addictive behaviour. For nearly a decade, the addictive personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Craig nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. The addictive personality book by craig nakken official publisher. Jan 18, 1983 while personality plays a significant part in addictive behavior, behavioral scholars often note that addictions are a product of the subtle interplay between social factors and psychological. Some people may be more impulsive or sensations affect them stronger, or they may have natural predilections toward depression and anxiety that leads them to use drugs to help, or they may be in a situation where there are no positive reinforcers or alternatives to drug use, but there is no one personality that science agrees on as the addictive. For those with addictive personality disorder the health and financial impact of drug addiction is not enough to outweigh the addiction to drugs itself. Traits of addictive personalities can put someone at risk for developing an addiction. Ted talk everything you think you know about addic.
May 04, 2016 by simple definition, an addictive personality refers to a set of characteristics that a person exhibits which put him or her at increased risk for developing an addiction. An addictive personality does not mean you are doomed to addiction. Reed lessing purpose of this study through these four lessons we will look at various characters in the bible and what they can teach us about addictive personalities and behaviors. The term is used colloquially to refer to people who have tendencies that appear to lead to addictionlike behaviors, says george koob, ph. Each week there are suggested sections for individual or small group work and sections for whole group discussion. Can people with non addictive personalities experience. The thing to realize is, you will always hold the potential for developing an addictive personality. Now he continues his proven and trustworthy blend of practical and positive psychology with. An addictive personality refers to a hypothesized set of personality traits that make an individual predisposed to developing addictions.
Read the addictive personality understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior by craig nakken available from rakuten kobo. In fact, most researchers in addiction today would caution against the idea of a single, generic personality that is prone to addiction. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior, covers more of the behavorial side of addiction. In popular culture, this image has become the subconscious image of the addictive personality that is, the individual who is considered all but destined to develop a substance addiction. The myth of the addictive personality psychology today. An addictive personality is a set of personality traits that make an individual more prone to develop addictions to drugs, alcohol or other habitforming behaviors. The addictive personality isnt what you think it is scientific. Gambling is a behavior that many individuals with addictive personality disorder get sucked in to. Jan 01, 1988 the many aspects of the addictive personality are complex and tricky. Addiction as a process types of highs trance extending the addiction field emotional logic how addicts treat themselves and others. Many studies have proven that children of addicts are at a far greater risk than children of nonaddicts of becoming addicts themselves.
Millman, director of the alcohol and drug abuse service at the payne whitney psychiatric clinic at the new york hospital, nonaddicts are those people who have strong families, often with religious. Addictive personality definition of addictive personality. Is it possible to truly have a non addictive personality. I have often considered myself to have an addictive personality. Spotting addictive tendencies in our children educate. Apr 05, 2016 the addictive personality is seen as a bad one. An addictive personality or addictive habits have the propensity to reinforce an existing personality disorder. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior ebook. With awareness and support, you can live a healthy and fulfilling life that is separate from addiction.
While personality plays a significant part in addictive behavior, behavioral scholars often note that addictions are a product of the subtle interplay between social factors and psychological. Jun 14, 2018 craig nakken, author of addictive thinking and the addictive personality, writes, the addict side of the personality is very important for recovering addicts to understand because it will stay with them for life. The addictive personality we hear a lot about the addictive personality, and it is true that certain traits increase ones chances of becoming addicted to something. There is no personality trait that predicts addiction and addiction alone. Very helpful book for helping to understand why the addicted person does what they do. The addictive personality that develops within some of us, replaces the true self and will go to great lengths to survive, even givingup one addiction for another, just to. In her new book maia szalavitz recalls her behavior as a child in school and at home. Craig nakken, author of addictive thinking and the addictive personality, writes, the addict side of the personality is very important for recovering addicts to understand because it will stay with them for life. Why theres probably no such thing as an addictive personality.
Addiction whether its to alcohol, a substance, or even. The authors main idea is that an alternate personality, the addict, develops for some people and addiction comes when that personality beats the original into submission and takes over. While obesity is viewed as a physiological condition in some cases, it is commonly linked to a longstanding pattern of overeating and an addictive relationship to food that can generally be traced to personality factors in combination with learned responses. Having these traits puts them at risk for all kinds of addictions, not just drug problems. Describes a noun or pronounfor example, a tall girl, an interesting book, a big house. This article argues that the concept of addictive personality is a complete myth.
Now, this revised edition brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. There are also some biological markers that suggest someone may become an addict. For example, they can also develop addictions to gambling, sex, and exercise. The temperament from which it springs is seen as defective, unable to resist temptation. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior by craig nakken at barnes. For instance, if you are painfully shy and selfconscious and a particular drug makes you feel more relaxed and sociable, chances are youre. Is it possible to tell if your child will become an addict.
The many aspects of the addictive personality are complex and tricky. Another type of nondrugrelated addictive behavior is compulsive gambling. Addiction and addictive personality addiction center. An addictive personality refers to a particular set of personality traits that make an individual predisposed to developing addictions. Theres an image that is often brought to mind when it comes to people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. After reading the first few chapters, the light came on for me. Is it possible to truly have a nonaddictive personality. Theres no such thing as an addictive personality heres why. As someone with an addictive personality, you have a lot of drive that needs to be channeled in a positive direction. Now, through this second edition, author craig nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. This book is one of the best descriptions and explanations of how the addictive personality and addictive thinking and addictive emotions work and play out.
The lack of a universally agreed upon definition has marked the research surrounding addictive personality. Anxious, bright and slightly obsessive, she didnt seem to. Understanding the signs of an addictive personality can help you better understand how you may deal with potential addictions. This hypothesis states that there may be common personality traits observable in people suffering from addiction. Perhaps a better definition would be to say a habitforming personality. Jan 15, 2016 for those with addictive personality disorder the health and financial impact of drug addiction is not enough to outweigh the addiction to drugs itself. The addictive personality for nearly a decade, addictive personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Addiction and addictive personality addictive personalities are classified as elements of ones character that predisposes to substance abuse and behavioral compulsions. Oct 11, 2016 addictive personality disorder traits although addictive personality disorder is not a scientific term, substance addicts do share some common personality traits. An addictive personality means that someone has certain traits that put him or her more at risk for developing an addiction.
Drugs, coffee, television they can all be described as addictive. The addictive personality isnt what you think it is. Since its publication in 1988, the addictive personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Another type of non drugrelated addictive behavior is compulsive gambling. The chances of understanding how it all works, apart from an excellent book like this, are remote. If you question really is can you meaning can i cure your addictive personality, i would say that i definitely cannot. Signs you have an addictive personality disorder exploring. Lee jampolskys selfhelp classic healing the addictive mind has given well over 100,000 people around the world the tools to create significant change in their lives. Now that we know what the addictive personality looks like, what do we know about the nonaddict profile. On some level, the addict will always be searching for an object or some type of event with which to form an addictive relationship. The addictive person has a thought process and an emotional process that is playing out in their behavior. The addictive personality understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior craig nakken foreword by damian mcelrath, ph.
Some people use alcohol or drugs occasionally, enjoying their effects but not seeking them out regularly. If you believe in the concept of addictive personality, then you also believe that there are fundamental biological or genetic differences between the addict and the nonaddict. Addictive personality is described by the american addiction centers as an informal term that links particular personality traits to a higher risk of addiction or other problematic behaviors, like drug abuse, gambling, or even constant social media use. Nonaddictive personality physical and mental wellbeing. Patients who are vulnerable to addictions often lack impulse control, find it difficult to regulate their emotions, seek thrills and sensations, and suffer from a low sense of. Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters. Addictive personality disorder traits although addictive personality disorder is not a scientific term, substance addicts do share some common personality traits. While our focus was on him and his problems, he told me i needed to read this book and that i totally had an addictive personality. The fiction is the concept of a specific addictive personality.
Lang of florida state university, author of an addiction study prepared for the united. Addictive personality is not an actual psychiatric diagnosis, says michael weaver, md, medical director of the center for neurobehavioral research on addiction at the university of texas. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior, author craig nakken explains why, even after. Now, however, research into genetics and epigenetics is finally starting to shed some light on the causes of addiction and it turns out that the idea of an addictive personality is a myth. This is true of substance addiction, such as alcohol and drugs, but can arguably be true of pornography as well galante, 2014. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior. Such people, estimated at perhaps 10%15% of the population, simply dont know when to stop. The addictive personality the best evidence is that no single underlying trait or unique constellation of personality features can be identified as predisposing to drug misuse. By simple definition, an addictive personality refers to a set of characteristics that a person exhibits which put him or her at increased risk for developing an addiction. This book, which looks similar to addictive thinking. I know its possible and will probably happen if i try anything to hard, but i just have never experienced what addiction feels like. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior, author craig nakken explains why, even after an addict has given up the bottle or the weed, she will never be done with recovery.
A lifelong tendency toward obsessive or compulsive behavior, or poor impulse control. Sarah fader is the ceo and founder of stigma fighters, a nonprofit organization that encourages individuals with mental illness to share their personal stories. The reason is because addiction depends, first and foremost, upon having an addictive personality. The term addictive personality has been used mainly in two ways. Addictive personality is a term often used in association with alcoholism, but you can also feel addicted to other things, like certain activities, people, foods, or physical objects.
How to know if you have an addictive personality quora. Sep 29, 2009 second editionsince its publication in 1988, the addictive personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Strictly speaking that is called addictive personality disorder. Right now you seem to be fairly without one, but any habituative act will essentially program your mind into expecting that act and therefore habituation is born. If you believe in the concept of addictive personality, then you also believe that there are fundamental biological or genetic differences between the addict and the non addict. I know i sound like a fucking clueless retard you dont have to tell me, but i honestly cant see myself getting addicted to a drug. This is my favourite quote in the academic addiction literature and was made back in.
915 1037 877 1168 1330 1118 606 193 207 886 805 1490 1129 1094 223 1283 159 1308 1074 271 251 1294 1119 344 705 897 694 499 223 143 264 524 869 441 712 856 550 1137