Gray's model of personality and addiction

Ingmar Franken, PEHM Muris, Irina Georgieva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

181 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It has been suggested that high levels of behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity predispose psychopathological conditions that are characterized by a pathological engagement in approach behaviors, such as alcohol and drug abuse. The present study examined differences in scores on the BIS/BAS scales between clinically referred drug addicts and alcoholics and healthy control subjects. Results showed that drug addicts had higher BAS scores than controls and this was particularly true for BAS drive and BAS fun seeking. No differences were observed between the alcoholics and the other two groups. This is the first time that a relation between heightened BAS and drug addicts is observed in a clinical sample. These findings provide partial support for Gray's personality theory, which predicts a relation between BAS and substance abuse.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)399-403
Number of pages5
JournalAddictive Behaviors
Volume31
Issue number3
Early online date16 Jun 2005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Research programs

  • ESSB PSY

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