Is Addictive Personality a Real Thing? The Experts Weigh In

Confession time… do you think you have an addictive personality? Maybe you can’t go more than 10 minutes without scrolling Instagram, have an online shopping cart that’s permanently full, or have a habit of drinking more than you said you would.

Whatever your vice (or vices) of choice, you’ve convinced yourself it’s a personality thing—that a tendency to do things in excess is in your DNA. 

But here’s a newsflash for you. Addictive personality is not a scientific term. It’s actually a marketing one—popularized by the Pharma Company that created the notoriously addictive drug OxyContin in the 1990s.

Back then, they armed their sales reps with the phrase as a way to convince doctors that only people with so-called “addictive personalities” were at risk of becoming addicted to the drug, even though everyone was. 

Fast forward to today, and the term has become pretty much embedded in popular culture. But is it possible that some personality types are more likely than others to  become addicted? And what should you do if you're worried about your own habits?

We spoke to the experts to find out. 

The Truth About "Addictive Personality": What Science Really Says

Let’s start with the great news. Despite what you might have heard, it turns out that there’s no one personality type that’s more addiction prone than any other.  

As Dr. Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, explains: “Despite decades of research, no one has been able to identify a consistent set of personality traits or personality types that can reliably predict alcohol or other drug problems.”

In other words? Addictive habits don’t correlate with certain Enneagram types or Myers-Briggs letters. Anyone can be impacted.

“There’s just no evidence for the idea of an addictive personality,” Dr. Lee adds. “It’s a stereotype that seems to have lingered.”

But Here’s the Thing—There Are Patterns

Even though there’s no such thing as an addictive personality type, our experts do acknowledge that certain Big Five personality traits—like high Neuroticism and Extraversion—can make people more vulnerable to addictive behaviors.

“The two key temperaments that increase risk of alcohol or drug problems are risk-taking or impulsiveness and sad or anxious temperaments,” explains Dr. Lee. “The common connection between these traits, which seem opposite ends of the spectrum, is a problem with emotion regulation.”

In other words, it’s not that these traits directly cause addiction. Rather, they can push you toward making emotional, short-term decisions: opting for the quick fix instead of what’s really best for you in the long haul.

Dr. Stephen Bright, Senior Lecturer on Addiction at Edith Cowan University, concurs. He points out that people scoring high in Neuroticism are more likely to experience negative emotional states, leading to things like drinking or gambling as a form of self-soothing.

And what about the Extraverts among us? According to Dr. Bright, those who thrive on sensation-seeking may be more inclined to engage in risky behaviors, largely because they might dive headfirst into situations without fully considering the consequences.

However, that’s not to say that scoring high in Neuroticism or Extraversion means you’re destined to become addicted to something.

As Dr. Bright puts it, “Just because you are born tall does not mean that you will be a good basketball player. And just because you are high in certain personality dimensions does not mean that you will develop an addiction. Many people who score high on these personality traits do not engage in such excessive behaviors.”

So, What’s the Root Cause?

If it’s not personality that causes addiction, then what’s really at play? The answer, unsurprisingly, is complicated. 

“Addiction is a complex interaction between nature and nurture,” says Dr. Bright. “Many people who develop addictions do not have those personality traits that predict excessive behaviors, but rather have experienced adverse life events that predispose them to an addiction.”

Now, we get that this might not be the clean-cut answer you were hoping for, especially if you’re trying to cut back on your vices—whether that’s drinking, doom-scrolling or binge shopping. But don’t worry, our experts have some real-world advice for those who are trying to get their habits under control.

First off, recognize if there’s an issue. “It’s the behavioral outcome that’s important,” explains Dr. Lee. “If that’s impacting your life in a negative way—like experiencing hangovers that result in taking a sick day, lower productivity or reduced social engagement—then it’s probably time for a change.”

If the problem is severe and impacting your daily life, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. There’s no shame in seeking support.

For those with less severe habits, Dr. Brights suggests engaging in a period of self-reflection. “It would be worth finding out what personality traits you have, so you can better understand which traits might be driving your tendency to engage in excessive behaviors,” shares Dr. Bright.  The more you know about yourself and your tendencies, the better equipped you’ll be to shift habits that aren’t serving you.

“For some people, these personality traits could be a super power that just need to be redirected, such as using your Extraversion or Conscientiousness to engage in activities that align with your values,” Dr. Bright says. Say, for instance, that you have high Conscientiousness. Working hard and consistently to achieve goals is important for you and something you’re good at—so why not train for a marathon? Or, if you value connection and community, you could volunteer at a local charity a couple of evenings a week.

 “For others, such as those high on Neuroticism, it might be about developing new coping strategies that are more adaptive,” Dr Bright continues. This could look like diving into compassion-based meditation, practicing mindfulness, or doing something that brings you joy—like painting, walking, or reading—when your emotions start to feel overwhelming.

The takeaway? Getting to know your personality is the key to gaining control of your life. Your personality isn’t a problem. It’s actually the solution. By getting to know yourself better, you can start steering yourself toward healthier choices and finding balance in your life.