Personality core dynamics and drug preference

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Addiction Studies
• Psychoanalysis

Background:

• Shoham's personality-core theory posits two fundamental vectors: 'participation' (ego fusion with external objects) and 'separation' (ego incorporation of external objects).
• These vectors, initiated during the critical oral stage of psychosexual development, shape lifelong behavioral patterns and personality types.
• Drug addiction is conceptualized as a functional behavior pattern aimed at achieving internal balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential correlation between Shoham's personality-core theory constructs ('separation' and 'participation' vectors) and hard drug addiction.
• To examine how different personality types, derived from the prominence of these vectors, influence drug use patterns and experiences.
• To explore the relationship between early oral fixation (participant or separant) and the development of addiction.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical framework based on Kleinean psychoanalytic premises regarding early childhood development.
• Hypothesis-driven investigation into the link between personality vectors and drug addiction.
• Analysis of how personality type may mediate drug use experiences.

Main Results:

• Hypothesized variation in drug use and experience based on the prominence of core personality vectors ('separant' vs. 'participant').
• Potential association between early oral fixation (participant or separant) and the strength of these personality vectors.
• Drug addiction viewed as a manifestation of personality type and its inherent drive for internal balance.

Conclusions:

• Shoham's personality theory offers a potential framework for understanding the psychological underpinnings of drug addiction.
• The 'separation' and 'participation' vectors may play a significant role in differentiating addiction experiences across personality types.
• Further empirical research is warranted to validate the proposed links between personality vectors, oral fixation, and drug addiction.