Researchers and academics have been interested in the relationship between addictive personality traits and substance usage for a long time. Abuse of psychoactive substances is a significant public health and social issue that has repercussions not just for the affected people but also for society as a whole. On the other hand, personality is the term used to describe an individual’s distinctive combination of characteristics, actions, and ways of thinking that characterize that person. Hence, to shed light on why certain people are more predisposed to addiction than others, it is necessary to have a solid grasp of the relationship between personality and substance usage. This study investigates personality traits and substance usage to see whether or not there is a correlation between the two. In order to study the connection between personality and substance usage, most of this paper will be devoted to analyzing empirical articles.
Personality Types
Personality is a multifaceted concept that defies a single definition. Personality can be broken down into distinct subtypes. Those who are more reserved make up the first category. Those that are more introverted are typically shy and contemplative. They thrive in solitary or peaceful settings. They could like being alone and prefer pastimes like reading, writing, or nature walks (Ingram et al., 2020). On the other hand, extroverted people are more likely to be extroverted in their behavior. They gain energy from interacting with others and thrive in a social environment. They could like attending activities like concerts and parties. Openness is yet another personality style. Those open to new things are naturally inquisitive, imaginative, and receptive. They have a vivid imagination and delight in hearing new points of view (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). Someone with this personality type may find themselves gravitating toward the arts. People with high conscientiousness are characterized by dependability, orderliness, and self-control. They are dedicated to achieving their goals and always do a good job. They may do well in school or the workplace because they can maintain concentration and consistently fulfil their goals.
The trait of agreeability can be attributed to a separate category of character traits. Most people who are considered agreeable are those who are kind, helpful, and understanding. When it comes to their wants, they may put those of others ahead of their own since they care so much about maintaining peace (Maraj et al., 2019). They might do well in fields that involve interacting with others, such as teaching, social work, or counselling. Lastly, “Neuroticism” describes a personality trait in which people are more prone to severe and frequent negative emotional experiences than people with other traits (Ingram et al., 2020). They might be more vulnerable to emotions like worry, sadness, and uncertainty. There are many other methods to classify or describe personality; the ideas given here are just a few examples. Different people’s personalities may develop in different ways because of this.
Theories of Personality
The subfield of psychology known as “personality psychology” investigates each person’s unique characteristics, routines, and thought processes to understand better what makes them unique. There have been many different hypotheses put up to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the construction and maintenance of personalities and the public exhibition. It is generally agreed that Sigmund Freud was the one who first developed the psychodynamic theory of personality (Maraj et al., 2019). According to this school of thought, a person’s distinctive personality is shaped not only by their conscious and unconscious drives and experiences but also by the memories they recall from their past (Maraj et al., 2019). By Freud’s theory, a person’s personality can be broken down into three distinct components: the id, the ego, and the superego (Maraj et al., 2019). The id is the component of a person’s personality that is the most primitive and driven by instinct.
In contrast, the ego represents the thinking and reflective side, and the superego represents a person’s more developed and mature ethical side. The humanist school of thinking is another prominent school of thought regarding theories of personality. The humanist school of thought focuses an emphasis on the inherent goodness and potential of people. According to supporters of this perspective, people can govern their own acts and the repercussions of their actions (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). The humanistic theory is based on the idea that an individual should work toward self-actualization, self-actualization, and self-development goals (Marengo et al., 2020). Another significant school of thinking is known as the trait theory of personality. This school of thought asserts that every person possesses their own unique set of characteristics or traits. These traits are more trustworthy predictors of behavior than contextual ones because they are stable over time and across contexts, which makes environmental factors less dependable.
Correlations between Personality Types and Substance Abuse
One of the personality traits that has received the most excellent attention from researchers about substance use is neuroticism. There is a correlation between having a high level of neuroticism and an increased risk of abusing substances. Those who score higher on the neuroticism scale are more likely to drink excessively, and this link is mediated by negative affect. Another example would be people who score higher on the openness to experience scale (Skóra et al., 2020). High levels of neuroticism were associated with greater cocaine use and that stress had a significant role in mediating the connection. Another aspect of a person’s personality linked to substance abuse is their propensity for acting on impulses (Marengo et al., 2020). Those who are impulsive have a greater propensity to engage in risky behaviors, such as abusing drugs or alcohol, without giving sufficient attention to the likely results of their actions. This makes them more likely to experience negative consequences due to their actions.
Many studies have demonstrated a clear connection between impulsivity and the use of substances. High levels of impulsivity were predictive of alcohol consumption, and the need for novel experiences was determined to be the connecting factor in this association. Evidence suggests a connection between the personality trait of sensation-seeking and substance abuse (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). Those always looking for new and exciting experiences may have a greater propensity to engage in risky behaviors, such as abusing substances (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). High-sensation seekers had a greater propensity to experiment with drugs, this link was mediated mainly by social pressure from peers (Marengo et al., 2020). High Sensation Seekers have a greater propensity to experiment with drugs.
In addition to the characteristics mentioned above, there is evidence that certain personality types are at a greater risk for misusing substances. These characteristics include personalities of type A, characterized by a high level of competition, an emphasis on performance, and a strong sense of time pressure. This is analogous to how people with antisocial personalities may be more likely to abuse substances due to their inability to control their impulses and their general disregard for society’s norms. While the findings of these studies shed light on the connections between certain personality traits and substance use, it is essential to keep in mind the complexity and diversity of this connection (Skóra et al., 2020). The results of these studies do shed light on the connections between certain personality traits and substance use. Many other aspects of a person’s life, as well as their surroundings and the culture in which they live, might affect their likelihood of misusing substances. More research is required to fully appreciate the mechanisms that underlie these relationships and develop treatment and preventative strategies that are effective for substance misuse.
One risk factor that may lead to substance misuse is a high score on a neuroticism, impulsivity, or sensation-seeking test. Individuals with low agreeableness and conscientiousness scores are more likely to abuse drugs. Substance abuse can be a solution for introverts who want to manage their social anxiety and feel more at ease in unfamiliar social circumstances. This is especially true for persons who suffer from social anxiety disorder and use substances like alcohol or drugs to cope with their sickness (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). More outgoing individuals may be more likely to utilize substances such as alcohol or drugs in social situations (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). This could be done in an attempt to feel accepted by their peers. More outgoing persons may be less likely to become addicted to narcotics than introverts, possibly because they have a more extensive social network from which to draw. It has been proposed that people scoring higher on openness to experience assessments are more inclined to experiment with new substances and engage in polydrug usage. This is true for people who score higher on measures of openness to experience.
Similarly, persons who score low on the agreeableness scale may be more likely to participate in dangerous activities such as substance abuse. From this perspective, we can see that certain personality types are more likely to participate in drug misuse. An adequate understanding of these linkages is required to create effective programs for substance use prevention and treatment of persons addicted to substances. Because certain people are more likely than others to become addicted to substances, preventative measures can be directed more narrowly at such individuals. Psychological features and behavioral patterns that differ from person to person can aid in the formulation of individualized therapy regimens (Cervone & Pervin, 2022). Finally, a better understanding of the relationship between personality types and substance usage can help prevent and treat substance abuse.
Conclusion
The connection between different personality types and the usage of substances is a complicated and multi-faceted problem. According to the data, particular personality qualities are related to an increased risk of substance misuse, while other characteristics may be protective against such risk. Even though there is no universally applicable method for preventing or treating substance misuse, having a deeper comprehension of the relationships between personality types and substance abuse can assist in developing more efficient preventative and treatment strategies. We can improve the likelihood of successful treatment and decrease the likelihood of relapse if we personalize interventions to the characteristics and tendencies of the individual receiving them. More research is required to understand better the mechanisms that underlie the association between personality types and substance misuse and to discover effective prevention and treatment strategies that can be applied to individuals with various personality types.
References
Ingram, I., Kelly, P. J., Deane, F. P., Baker, A. L., Goh, M. C., Raftery, D. K., & Dingle, G. A. (2020). Loneliness among people with substance use problems: A narrative systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Review, 39(5), 447–483. Web.
Cervone, D., & Pervin, L. A. (2022). Personality: Theory and research. John Wiley & Sons.
Maraj, A., Martin, M. V., Shane, M., & Mannan, M. (2019). On the null relationship between personality types and passwords. 2019 17th International Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust (PST). Web.
Marengo, D., Sindermann, C., Häckel, D., Settanni, M., Elhai, J. D., & Montag, C. (2020). The association between the big five personality traits and smartphone use disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 9(3), 534–550. Web.
Skóra, M. N., Pattij, T., Beroun, A., Kogias, G., Mielenz, D., de Vries, T., Radwanska, K., & Müller, C. P. (2020). Personality Driven Alcohol and Drug Abuse: New Mechanisms revealed. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 116, 64–73. Web.