Neuroticism and self-medication

• How does neuroticism contribute to addiction?

  • high neuroticism = more stress and anxiety -> addiction used as self-medication
• What did Sinha (2001) find about stress and addiction?

  • stress plays a role in starting an addiction

  • high stress = higher risk of relapse when trying to quit
• How does self-esteem relate to addiction?

  • Baumeister (1997): low self-esteem leads to self-defeating behaviours, including addiction, to escape self-awareness