What causes an addictive personality?

Answer 1

Most believe that it is partly in the brain itself and partly from the environment where the addicted person is raised. There is also a strong genetic factor in the family. I am a counselor and work with addicted persons. Most of these people have a parent or grandparent who was addicted as well. The personality isn't necessarily affected by the addiction but the addicted person can have a certain personality type. There is a theory about THIQ (a certain chemical) in the brain that some believe causes a person to be addicted. I hope that made sense. Thanks!!

Answer 2

They've been looking for the answer to that one for donkey's years, and are still not absolutely sure. Your first answerer was absolutely right, but I thought perhaps I should add my two cents worth, also.

One of the systems in the brain responsible for the fight/flight and pain/pleasure responses appears, in addicts (alcoholics, whatever) to function slightly differently from what we consider the "norm".

The brain and body are always 'talking' to each other. They do this with a system of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

In a person with an addiction, these messengers, in a manner of speaking, are given an easier route to travel on when they are delivering a message. As you know, a freeway is much faster than a regular street, and can hold more cars.

Consequently, when a person is born with these 'freeways' already in place, any fast cars (the neurotransmitters) are automatically directed to the faster route.

So the genetic factor can indeed play an enormous part in addiction. In addicts, these freeways become superhighways.
There is a lot more to it, of course, as with any study of the brain, and research goes on all the time. Unfortunately, the research and those who could benefit from it are often separated by the passage of both time and communication problems.

Hope this adds to your understanding a little.

Answer 3

There is of coarse an organic influence as has been said but it's not that simple. The addictive , compulsive tendencies are within us all yet not all become driven to engage this behavior. For those whom are living within an active addiction whether food,drug,sex,self mutilation etc. There is one common factor in them all that I believe is the driving force that perpetuates and engages addiction. The common denominator is a void inside that the person either cannot or does not know how to fill and the substance of abuse has at some point successfully done this. Therefore they begin to use what works and eventually forming a dependency on it. The thought of doing without creates great fear in them of being empty inside again. This has been my experience with addiction as well as the conclusion thus far in my studies

Answer 4

Many times addiction is genetic.