The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior

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Summary: An important book for understanding society and addiction
Review: Craig Nakken is a family therapist and addictions counsellor at the Family Therapy Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. He describes the addictive personality as "the most important idea expressed in this book". Nakken believes that some people are more prone to addiction than others. He examines various causes of this including influences in childhood. He does not rule out agenetic element saying that, "In all likelihood, it will be found to be a combination of the two" (environmental and genetic influences). An addictive personality may express itself in any addiction. This has important consequences for treatment. As Nakken observes:- Recovery is not just about breaking off one's relationship with an object or event, though this is of great importance. Recovery is primarily about coming to know one's addictive personality and taking the necessary steps to rid oneself of addictive attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviours. An example of the effect of this is given:- "People in a recovery program for alcohol addiction need to clearly understand thatthey are prone to form a possible addictive relationship with another object or event - food for example. For these people, sobriety acquires a new dimension; instead of only monitoring their relationship with alcohol, they also need to learn how to monitor the addictive part of themselves." Craig Nakken believes that Society "can push a person with addictive tendencies toward addiction". In his book he outlines some values in modern society which are similar to addictive values. For those who are politically conscious this section provides an interesting slant on one effect of a consumer society. The section of the book devoted to the topic of recovery is perhaps the weakest section. This section would have benefited considerably from case studies and more detailed advice. -Reviewed by Patrick Harrington  

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Summary: HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD
Review: Currently I am experiencing a new way of recovering because I now know pretty much of what I need to deal with my addiction. My addictive personality ( AP) has shown me out right how she can do whatever she pleases without my permission, today, I have an understanding with (AP) and through reading and re-reading this book by Craig I have been able to establish ways of taking back my life without such a dramtic struggle with AP. I appreciate the person that gave me the book to read because it truly has enhance my way of thinking with my recovery, I can say from my heart that if it wasn't for the grace of my Lord Jesus I probably would not ever have received the opportunity to meet the person who gave me the book to read nor would I have had the opportunity to send these few words to the author or whom ever. Thanks Craig, it does work if you choose to work with it.

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Summary: Class Assignment
Review: I had to read this book for my college course. Most of the people in the class did not like it or agree with many of nakkan's viewpoints. I personally think he is repeating NA to us in his own words. if you are not into NA, yo will not like this book.

Nakkan states abstinence is the only way to recovery, I beg to differ with him, there are many successful treatment modalities that do not include total abstinence such as methadone and methadone maintenance. Also, Naltraxone for those that are in disagreement with MMT. how about Antabuse? That is medicinal, he also thinks that is not "real recovery" then because it is medication assisted recovery?

Did not like this book or his opinions.

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Summary: Now I Understand
Review: If you are encountering a person with an addictive personality for the first time in your life and find them perplexing and confusing to you, this book will shed insight as to why they act they way they do, what motivates them, and what causes them to become addictive. I was prompted to find out more about the addictive personality because of my future mother-in-law's behavior and attitude toward me. She has been an addictive personality for decades, using a multitude of different substances and events all at once. Though she is across the country and not in our daily lives, the effects of her addiction are felt and impact upon me and her son. I could not comprehend her behavior until now---the book was that helpful at explaining the 'mystery' of her addictive personality.

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Summary: This Book Was the Key that Opened Up My Life
Review: No exaggeration. I'm considered to be a good person and a success, but have been deeply alone for years. I was trying to resolve an eating disorder when I came across this book. It explained exactly what was wrong, why, and how to heal and recover from not just the symptomatic eating disorder - but from the larger disease of addiction, which I now see has been at play in damaging so many aspects of my life. I wish I'd had this book 25 years ago. Everything finally makes sense. I'm so grateful for finding it.

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Summary: Not if you are looking for recovery help...
Review: This book is more like a theoretical exploration of what promotes addictive behavior, and will be of no real help to you if you are trying to help (or are yourself) an addict. There is no exploration into what treatments will work or not work, and some of what he says doesn't really seem to make sense in a real-life situation. Overall, it's useless unless you are curious about what might (theoretically) cause addictive behavior.

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Summary: Essential reading for anyone born after 1945
Review: This book, written in clear easily understood terms, is a MUST for anyone who thinks or feels they are family, friends or co-workers with someone prone to compulsive behaviour. Those of us who have not been through de-tox and/or a 12 step programme are so deficient in awareness of the illness of addiction as to be unable to understand the effect close proximity to this illness can have upon their own lives. Nakken explains the causes of addictive behaviour and the common theme between all forms of addiction. Whether you work with or for a 'Control Freak' live with an alchoholic or a gambler/shoplifter/over-eater, or have a child who is on drugs/shoplifting, this book is for you. An excellent first step to understanding the 'illness of the 20th Century'.Although revised for the 2nd edition (1996), it lacks a section on 'Further recommended reading', but anyone getting this far should contact the publisher for advice on books on more specific topics arising.

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Summary: No such thing as an addictive personality
Review: Unfortunately this book suffers from concept reduction. That is it takes a common sense understanding of what addiction and the addictive personality is and conflates the two and argues that the latter is real. Compulsive behaviour is not the same as having an addictive personality. All research that has tried to find an addictive personality - using a concept that isn't so broad as to include any compulsive behaviour - has failed to find consistent and predictable personality types that enable us to usefully labal it as such. That said the book may have good practical use for many people - it's just that the way the author conceptualises what it is that people have is not supported by the scientific evidence.