What is addiction?

This model of addiction states that a blend of environmental and biological behaviours associated with doing something addictive lead to changes in the brain as well as the body. Like certain conditions – for example, diabetes or heart disease – this can lead to downturns in physical and mental health if they are left unaddressed. This model is widely used in US medical institutions – and elsewhere – to explain many forms of addiction in a non-judgemental way.

The personality model of addiction looks at the entire issue from the point of view of human psychology. According to this theory, it is a psychological predisposition to compulsive behaviour that can lead to misuse and even dependency. Therefore, deep underlying reasons for addiction can be addressed. Examples of what might be looked into include certain types of personality disorder or something that caused a disturbance in personality development in younger life. As such, it is often the experience of the addictive behaviour that lies at its heart rather than any chemical reaction that might occur from abusing a substance, for example.

According to some academics, people with addictions choose them. Behaviours, under the choice model, are formed by repetition and – just like habits – can soon seem as though they are second nature after a short period of time. Treatments under the choice model of addition often try to find ways of breaking such habituated choices, such as avoiding environments where they might be easier to make. This might include, for example, avoiding going to the pub if you have a developing drinking problem or ensuring you only eat at mealtimes if you have a compulsion to overeat. One way to think about the choice model is that it tries to deal with addiction by getting people to think about the long-term outcomes of their behaviours rather than the short-term ‘gains’.