Personality characteristics of alcohol addicts during the second stage of alcoholism

In recent years the question of alcohol rehabilitation has moved from the medical and biological fields to the social and psychological areas. Recent developments have heightened the issue of key personality differences between addicts and non-addicts. Relying on these key differences can contribute greatly to effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. The purpose of present study was to identify the personality changes of alcohol addicted people applying methods of psychological assessment. The experimental group consisted of male alcohol addicts (the second stage of alcoholism) and the control group was represented by non-addicted males. A variety of psychological methods were used to identify the level of social frustration, anxiety, locus of control, defense mechanisms, and self-evaluation. The study showed some key differences between alcohol addicts and the control group. External locus of control of alcohol-addicted patients was 69% lower compared to non-addicts. The internal locus of control was identified in the control group of non-addicted people. Only 19% of alcohol addicts demonstrated an optimal aspiration level. The obtained results proved immaturity of alcohol addicts, their inability to set targets and low interest in self-development. Leading defense mechanisms indicate that alcohol addicts refuse to solve problems in a productive way. The alcohol addicts demonstrated the level of social frustration 51% lower than the control group of non-addicted people. These differences are extremely important for understanding the mechanism of escape into alcoholism. The study showed significant differences in self-evaluation, the level of anxiety, the tension of defense mechanisms, and locus of control.