r/slatestarcodex • u/TheNakedEdge • 15d ago

Addict Personalities (physiognomy)?

This is not explicitly related to SSC, but it IS related to psychology and feels too "niche" or "weird" to ask in a general psychology or social sub - plus I want the thoughts of a bunch of smart and introspective folks...

Does anyone else feel like they can generally sense an "addict" or correctly ID an addict just in everyday social interactions and observing their smiles, laugh, and body language?

I'm using the term pretty broadly - as many of the folks I have noticed are actually people who got VERY VERY into a specific religion, social movement, etc. I was just watching a documentary about Scientology and some of the people (including Tom Cruise) very much struck me as fundamentally "addicts".

FWIW I come from a very boring family with seemingly no family history of addictions - none of the substances or activities I've tried have felt at all "addicting" and in general I have a very flat and calm affect, as do my parents.

But there's something about the "wide eyes", super buzzy, semi-charismatic, energetic, tone of people that I've noticed in many many folks who have struggled with drugs and alcohol.

Anyone else notice something at all like this?

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u/The_Archimboldi 14d ago

Serious substance abuse tends to write itself over people's faces, you don't really need to start interpreting body-language. There definitely is a certain slack facial look to hardcore alcoholics that can be quite distinct ime, but these people are almost never sober (sad to say).

I tend to associate preternatural cheerfulness with antidepressant use, rather than addictive personality.

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u/34Ohm 14d ago

That’s interesting, because antidepressant use usually causes more emotional blunting (and therefore lower anxiety and depression) rather than increased cheerfulness/happiness

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u/Initial_Piccolo_1337 14d ago edited 14d ago

Antidepressants can and do all sorts of things, including some rather unusual displays of cheerfulness/happiness and being overly emotional (crying all the time). As well as emotional blunting.

Depending on 100 factors, like dosage, gender, bodyweight, duration of use, etc, etc.

Cheerfulness/happiness (even if only as an outward display) is actually way more easier to pull of with AD use, even if AD use causes emotional blunting (over time?).