You may have bounced from drink to drugs, from drugs to sex, from sex to overeating, from overeating to overexercise. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior, author craig nakken explains why, even after an addict has given up the bottle or the. In her new book maia szalavitz recalls her behavior as a child in school and. The addictive personality download free pdf and ebook by.
It is a change resulting from the addictive process that takes place within a person. Other researchers argue that an addictive personality is created from the illness of addiction. Theres no such thing as an addictive personality heres why. The addictive personality by craig nakken goodreads.
Help for those with antisocial personality disorder and co. This article argues that the concept of addictive personality is a complete myth. In popular culture, this image has become the subconscious image of the addictive personality that is, the individual who is considered all but destined to develop a substance addiction. It should be on the must read list for every counselor, everyone in recovery and all family members of persons with alcoholdrug problems. Craig nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. Emotional logic pits the addict against himself or herself. This is also a general description of what defines personality in terms of a formal psychological definition. Addictive personality is not an actual psychiatric diagnosis, says michael weaver, md, medical director of the center for neurobehavioral research on addiction at the university of texas. For instance, saying that a book is an addictive read or that a specific television series is addictive. Do you feel as if you fall into the addictive personality category.
Some people just feel life in moderation is too empty, too boring, too normal. This book represents a different side of addiction that often is not talked about. Do you fear that youll be addicted to something serious like drugs because you have a tendency to get addicted to many things. Theres an image that is often brought to mind when it comes to people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The addictive personality isnt what you think it is scientific. Personality is considered to be that set of characteristics that an individual will display. An addictive personality can be described as certain behavioral traits that can make a person predisposed to developing addictions. Despite the involvement of a number of psychosocial factors, a biological processone that is induced by repeated exposure to an addictive stimulusis the core pathology that drives the development and maintenance of an addiction. Now, through this second edition, author craig nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. An addictive personality refers to a hypothesized set of personality traits that make an individual. Comfort eating is a common way that we make ourselves feel better when we are disappointed, stressed or. Many books you pick up on the subject deal with the genetic and brain chemistry of. He understands the addictive personality from the inside out. Anonymous, there is a sentence that reads, remember that we deal with alcohol.
Second edition for nearly a decade, the addictive persona. For instance, saying that a book is an addictive read or that a specific television series is addictive viewing renders the word useless in a. The myth of the addictive personality psychology today. He is an acoa, went through addiction himself and is a psychologist. The signs of change, such as depression, irritability, and paranoia, emerge from the addictive process in the same way other longterm illnesses can change a person s personality. In fact, most researchers in addiction today would caution against the idea of a single, generic personality that is prone to addiction.
Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior ebook. It is a commonly used expression for a personality type who has a predisposition towards addictive substances. Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior, author craig nakken explains why, even after. Since its publication in 1988, the addictive personality has helped people understand the. In her new book maia szalavitz recalls her behavior as a child in school and at home. Since its publication in 1988, the addictive personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. According to the book theories of personality, the term personality is used by most people to refer to the types of characteristics that an individual normally displays across most situations. Anxious, bright and slightly obsessive, she didnt seem to.