Risk Factors: Personality Flashcards
What are ethical issues in researching addiction?
Threat of sanction
This is the possibility that research may reveal something incriminating in some way e.g. people with drug addictions may reveal illegal behaviour as part of an interview
Researchers must therefore weigh up the potential benefits and risks of doing the research e.g. possibilites for intervention vs futher discrimination
Risk Factors: Personality
Description
The concept of an ‘addictive personality’ is appealing because like all risk factors it can explain why some people became addicted when others dont, despite the fact that they both try the same experience. It can also explain why some people become addicted to a range of things, such as gambling, food, exercise, work and even relationships
Risk Factors: Personality
Neuroticism and psychoticism
Key Studies
Eysenck 1967
Francis 1996
Risk Factors: Personality
Neuroticism and psychoticism
Eysenck 1967 proposed a biologically based theory of personality based on three dimensions
Extraversion-introversion - extraverts are chronically under-aroused and bored, and seek external stimulation to increase their cortical (brain) arousal
Neuroticism - people high in neuroticism experience negative affect (depression, anxiety)
Psychoticism - related to hostility and impulsivity
Francis 1996 has found a link between addiction and high scores on both neuroticism and psychoticism
Risk Factors: Personality
Tri-dimensional theory of addictive behaviour
Key Studies
Cloniger 1987
Risk Factors: Personality
Tri-dimensional theory of addictive behaviour
Cloniger 1987 proposed three personality traits that predispose individuals towards substance dependence:
Novelty seeking - trying to engage in new experiences
Harm avoidance - which includes worrying and being pessimistic
Reward dependence - the extent to which an individual learns quickly from rewarding experiences and repeats behaviours that have been rewarded
Risk Factors: Personality
Causality
Key Studies
Teeson et al 2002
Risk Factors: Personality
Causality
One issue with the concept of an addictive personality relates to the fact that research is correlational only. Certain personality traits may be common amongst addicts, however this does not mean they predict addictive behaviour
Even if there is a causal relationship, the question is whether the personality trait or the addiction comes first. Teeson et al 2002 suggest it is difficult to disentangle the effects of personality on addiction from the effects of addiction on personality
Risk Factors: Personality
Evidence for personality as a cause
Key Studies
Belin et al 2008
Risk Factors: Personality
Evidence for personality as a cause
Research has found evidence, at least in rats, that personality comes first. Belin et al 2008, placed rats in a device where they could self-administer doses of cocaine. One group of rats were sensation-seekers and they immediately start taking large doses. A second group were high in impulsiveness; they started with lower doses but they, rather than the sensation-seekers were the ones to become addicted
Risk Factors: Personality
Impulsivity rather than sensation-seeking
Key Studies
Weintraub et al 2010
Risk Factors: Personality
Impulsivity rather than sensation-seeking
Another study, this time with humans, supports the role of impulsivity in addiction. Weintraub et al 2010 assessed individuals suffering from Parkinsons disease. Such individuals are treated with drugs that increase dopamine levels to combat their symptoms. A side effect appears to be a 3.5 fold increase in impulse-control disorders, including gambling and sex addiction. Addiction is linked to dopamine and this study suggests that high levels of dopamine lead to impulsivity and also may cause addiction
Risk Factors: Personality
Role of the dopamine system
Key Studies
Buckholtz et al 2010
Risk Factors: Personality
Role of the dopamine system
A recent study (Buckholtz et al 2010) also indicated that addictions may simply be more rewarding for people with certain personality types because those people e.g. those people high in impulsivity and sensation-seeking have a more hypersensitive dopamine response system . Buckholtz et al speculate that a heightened response to an anticipate reward could make such individuals less fearful about the consequences of their behaviour
