Addiction - Individual - Personality Flashcards
What does the personality explanation of addiction say causes addiction?
Approach assumes that some people have personalities that predispose them to developing addictions (addictive personality) This means that if someone with this personality is able to rid themselves of one addiction, they may simply fill that void with a new addiction.
How does Eysenk support the idea of an addictive personality?
Eysenck proposed that some people are more vulnerable to addiction due to their personality.
He argued that people seek out addiction as a way of meeting a need that is driven by their personality.
Eysenck (1997) argued that addiction is more prevalent in people who score high in psychoticism and neuroticism.
What key study supported Eysenck?
Key study: Gossop & Eysenck (1980
Researched 200 drug addicts – compared results of addicts to a control group on the EPQ.
Found addicts had higher psychoticism and neuroticism but lower extraversion. (more introverted)
How does ‘psychoticism’ link to addiction?
One characteristic of high levels of psychoticism is impulsivity. This is the tendency to act on a whim, with little forethought and little or no consideration of the consequences of your actions.
It would be reasonable to argue that high levels of impulsivity may lead people to engage in addictive behaviours or take substances that have negative consequences. (explains initiation and relapse)
How does ‘Neuroticism’ link to addiction?
People high in neuroticism tend to be anxious, moody and prone to depression.
Eysenck argued that people high in neuroticism would be more prone to addiction as a way of coping with the effects of their neuroticism.
Name one strength of the Personality explanation of Addiction
Strength 1:
Research evidence to support the existence of addictive personality’s in Gossop and Eysenck which also used a large sample size and a control group adding to the credibility of the existence.
CA in that it could be argued the EPQ is reductionist and oversimplifies the entirety of human behaviour into just 3 categories.
Name another strength of the Personality explanation of Addiction
Strength 2:
Approach has real world application to method of modification as by acknowledging the role of personality, it allows for us to put in interventions to prevent addiction, for instance if we know neuroticism leads to addiction as a way of coping with anxiety / depression, counselling, other methods of therapy such as CBT and drugs (beta blockers) can be used on the individuals to help them better cope with it without the use of engaging with addiction
Similarly cognitive skills training could be given to deal with the impulsivity of addicts due to their high psychoticism.
Name one weakness of the Personality explanation of Addiction
Weakness 1
here is a difficulty establishing cause and effect, this is because the relationship between personality and addiction is correlational meaning the personality tests are done once the addiction has already been developed meaning we don’t know if the addiction caused a change in personality, or the personality caused the addiction!
Name another weakness of the Personality explanation of Addiction
Weakness 2
Kerr (1996) suggests that an addictive personality is simply a myth – he says this is because there are so many traits listed as being part of an ‘addictive personality’ that it would be typical of most individuals and traits like Psy and Neu aren’t even unique to addiction – for instance criminals were also found to have higher Psy and Neu levels on the EPQ than the average person.
