Alcoholism and Personality Research

Psychologist have evaluated the relationships between alcoholism and personality profiles in a number of research studies. Alcohol abuse is an untreated epidemic in the United States (Bergland, 2015). There is still a great deal of confusion in regard to the personality traits of men with excessive alcohol consumption and social stability. An article by Stephen Mason, Ph.D. states that addiction to drugs or alcohol depends on having an addictive personality, and this personality is found in 10 to 15 percent of the population (2009). It is perplexing that the excessive alcohol consumption has existed amidst careers, marriages, and stable housing. A study by Berglund, Roman, Balldin, Berggren, Eriksson, Gustavsson & Fahlke finds that these males do not suffer from an addictive personality (2011). Alcoholism and Personality Research Paper

There are two types of alcoholism classified by Cloninger, Bohman and Sigvardsson. Type I alcoholism occurs in people with social stability and is usually late onset. There are no or very few psychopathological and social issues in these individuals. Type II alcoholism is earlier onset with severe dependence and psychopathological and social issues. Type II alcoholism is considered to be related to antisocial personality disorders. Type I alcoholism has not been correlated with one or more specific personality patterns. Therefore, the question for which the research was intended was whether or not Type I alcoholics suffer from a personality disorder that could be commonly called “addictive personality” (Berglund et al., 2011).