by Linda Spradlin

Created on: August 01, 2008

Everyone has an addiction of some sort, at some level. It could be to shopping, dieting, eating, exercise, drinking, gambling, drug abuse, or any thing else you can think of. Now you may think that shopping or dieting is not as bad as say, drinking or gambling? You'd be wrong! An addictive personality is just that, addictive. But do they all have certain personality traits or experiences that make them more susceptible to addiction? Some experts say yes, but some say addiction is far too complicated to generalize a single set of characteristics that lead to these destructive behaviors.

Human beings are a diverse group. While some people lose control around alcohol, others can drink recreationally a couple nights a week without developing any form of dependency. Different addictions fulfill different needs for different people. Thus it is impossible to create a comprehensive definition of an addictive personality that covers all the varieties of people and addictions.

However, different types of addicts do share some common traits. Some experts believe an addictive personality includes a distinct set of psychological traits that predispose particular individuals to addictions. Addictive personality factors may include:

Antisocial personality - People who seclude themselves socially. Feelings of isolation may encourage people to turn to drugs or alcohol as a substitute for their lack of personal relationships or to feel at ease in social situations.

Low stress tolerance - Poor stress management skills or a lack of coping skills may make people more likely to turn to drugs, alcohol, or other addictions to manage their emotions.

Difficulty delaying gratification - Addictive personalities have great difficulty achieving long-term goals. They may exhibit impulsive behavior and often see drugs or alcohol as a "quick fix" to solve life's problems.

Compulsive behavior - People with addictive personalities see things as black or white and take an all-or-nothing approach to life. They are either perfect, or a failure; completely in control, or utterly powerless.

Substituting vices - People with addictive personalities tend to switch to other activities when deprived of the opportunity to participate in the original addiction. Usually members of Alcoholics Anonymous take up smoking, and people who quit smoking chew gum impulsively.

Insecurity - Compulsive behaviors often mask insecurity or a fear of failure. People who have to constantly seek the approval of others may be prone

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