A STUDY OF PERSONALITY CORRELATES OF

WOMEN HEROIN - ADDICTS

Sadia Habib *

Abstract:
This research paper attempts to study the personality correlates of women heroin addicts as
compared to non-addicts. The main aim of this study is to find out the impact of heroin
addiction, on the basis of Murrays 15 need traits of personality, among the women. It also
seeks to explore the relationship of locus of control and socio-economic status of heroin
addicted women.

Key words:
Personality Correlates, Heroin, Addiction, Women, Locus of Control

From time immemorial men have been associated with drugs. Ancient people took various
psychoactive drugs in various form viz. juice, leaves concoctions etc. to enhance the
happiness and cause merriment on festive occasions and as mood altering substances.
Siberian people prepared hallucinogenic drugs from different varieties of mushroom to
induce vigour, happiness and cheerfulness. The use of drugs, later on, was declared to be
illicit. These illicit drugs include - cocaine, heroin and smack etc. These drugs in view of
their serious social hazards have caused serious concern among general public and
professional scientists.
Heroin-addiction is considered to be a social stigma. Rather it is more derogatory than the
abuse of other substances. Unfortunately, the women are also getting attracted to this evil
which is ruining the family and the society.
Many attempts have been made to study this problem and determine its causative factors
and effects. However, on women-addicts in general and women heroin-addicts in
particular, psychological studies are very few. Formerly, addiction in women was viewed
as a minor problem and there was no serious restriction on the use of opiates. So, a
considerable percentage of female addicts used opiates and its other forms to get relief from
pain and getting pleasure. According to Cusky et al (1972), and strongly enough by
present concepts, it was generally viewed as a relatively respectable substitute for alcohol.
There was predominance of males in the addicted population. But now drug addiction
problem among women of urban, rural, upper and middle class is frequently seen.

The use of illicit drugs among the house-wives and working women is on increases and
posing challenges before the society and social thinkers. Now this matter has been openly
acknowledged as an issue which calls for serious attention. Largely, the use of illicit drugs
viz. cocaine, heroin and smack is still mens problem. As Ellinwood (1966) reports, males
are prone to narcotics four times greater than females, but the fast changing life, altered
social structure, changing social role, womens equality with men anxiety, depression,
frustration, peer pressure, job related problems, escape from realities, boredom in life,
spouse pressure and several other factors have caused increase in the number of women
smokers, drinkers and addicts of permitted drugs like sedatives, tranquillisers, antidepressants as well as out-lawed narcotics such as heroin, brown sugar and smack etc. The
use of various drugs by women is largely a secret affair and thus is beyond research. So,
the exact size of female addiction both globally and nationally is unknown.
Women drug addicts are often depicted as individuals possessing the most undesirable
characteristics. Various empirical researches reveal that basically some pathological
problems, inadequate personality, personal and social problems are linked with heroinaddiction. Many empirical studies have emphasised on the personality disorder of heroinaddiction. Inadequate personality and character disorder play an important role in heroin addiction (Gerard & Kornetsky, 1955). It has been
maintained that heroin - addicts
possess strong incestuous desire (Savitt, 1963). Sutker & Moan (1972) have carried out a
significant work to understand the MMPI profile of female addicts and found that only 18
percent female addicts have normal MMPI indices. Female heroin-addicts have elevated
score on hysteria (Hy), psychopathic deviate (Pd) and social introversion (SI) sub-scales
(Pittel, 1971). Kilmann (1974) conducted a study to measure the personality of female
addicts and found that addicts are ambitious, energetic, emotionally dependent, intolerant of
prolonged attention, apprehensive, impulsive, competitive, less defensive and selfcontrolled, need achieving, dominant, enduring, orderly, deferent, more heterosexual and
scored high on autonomy (n-aut.) need trait. Adolescent addicts exhibit low self-esteem
and poor adjustment while youngsters suffer from diminished feeling of self - worth, sexrole and perception etc. (Shelly, Sandler and Lees, 1990). When family structure is
considered, it is found that fathers were present in only 40 percent families of heroinaddicts (Goldsmith, Capell, Wadell and Stewart (1972).
Heroin use can lead to various problems in the body and mind as well as deadly diseases.
Finnegan et al (1975) report that high rate of morbidity and mortality is common among
infants of heroin addict mothers. It is also marked that development in general, intellectual
standards, height and weight of the progeny of drug addicted mothers are impaired
(Bauman and Levine, 1983). Faile, Karen, Mc Cahill, Thomas, Soviet & Leonard (1975)
examined the question of crime pattern among female addicts and found that they were
involved in prostitution and drug peddling. It is an established fact that women heroinaddicts do not have happy relationship pattern. Ravndal and Vaglum (1994) report that
female addicts have destructive relationship with parents, partners and peers.
There is paucity of research material on the female sample specially in connection with
heroin - addiction. Studies, so far, establish that personality traits are descriptive of women
heroin-addiction. Due to social stigma attached to heroin-addiction, it is rather difficult for
investigators to reach at a definite conclusion. Present study has been designed to evaluate

the personality traits as described by Murray et al (1988), locus of control and socioeconomic status among women heroin-addicts and compare them with those of non-addicts.
The Problem
Following problem has been posed for the present study:
Do women heroin-addicts differ in their normal personality traits, their locus of control
and socio - economic status to women non-addicts.
Also, whether the personality traits are related with the heroin-addiction.
Hypotheses
To assess the personality correlates of women heroin-addicts as well as non-addicts, three
hypotheses were presented:
1. Women heroin-addicts differ on their personality traits from non-addicts. Here, two
samples (heroin-addicts and non-addicts) were compared on Murrays 15 normal
personality traits - achievement (n-ach.), deference (n-def.), order(n-ord.), exhibition (nexh.), autonomy (n-aut.), affiliation (n-aff.), interception (n-int.),succorance (n-suc.),
dominance (n-dom.), abasement (n-aba.), nurturance (n-nur.), change (n-chg.), endurance
(n-end.), heterosexuality (n-het.), and aggression (n-agg.). 15 hypotheses were formulated
separately for every need trait.
2. The severity of heroin - addiction is significantly related to the personality traits of
achievement, deference, order, exhibition, autonomy, affiliation, interception, succorance,
abasement, nurturance, change, endurance, heterosexuality and aggression.
3. Women heroin-addicts differ from their non-addict counterparts on their locus of control
and socio-economic status.
Method and Procedure
Two samples - heroin addicts (N= 140) and non-addicts (N=140) were drawn. Both were
matched for their age and education. The sex variable stood automatically matched as
cases in both the groups were females.
Sample
This study is based on a sample of 140 identified women heroin-addicts. Sample is drawn
from various de-addiction centres running at Mumbai. Some cases are taken from open
field also. For comparative use women non-addicts have been taken in equal number.
(N=140).

Purposive sampling method has been used for the selection of experimental group (women
heroin -addicts) and random selection method for drawing cases for control group (nonaddicts).
Description of Tools Used
The following tools were administered on both groups - women heroin-addicts and nonaddicts1. Aap Ki Pasand : Ek Parsnawali
It is a test prepared by Tripathi & Sen Gupta (1977) in Hindi version based on Edwards
Personal Preference Schedule (Edwards, 1959) measuring 15 normal personality traits.
This test contains 15 sub-scales and has been developed on the basis of Murrays
description of needs (Murray, 1938). So, every personality statement was based on
Murrays description of need traits.
2.H.A. Scale
To test the severity of addiction, a new test was developed in Hindi on the basis of MMPI
by this author. 26 items belonging to four sub-scales of MMPI viz. depression (D),
psychopathic deviate(PD), masculinity-feminity (MF) and psychasthenia (PT) were
included in this scale.
Reliability
The coefficient of reliability was found 0.80 by the method of test-retest and 0.53 by the
method of odd-even and split-half reliabilities.
Validity
The significant differences between the mean score, obtained by two samples under study
established, newly developed test for screening the incidence of heroin-addicts successfully.
3. Locus of Control Inventory
For the assessment of locus of control, J.B.Rotters (1971) locus of control inventory has
been used.
4. Socio-economic Status Scale
To measure the socio-economic status of both urban heroin-addicts and non-addicts, a
socio-economic scale constructed and standardised by Singh et al (1970) was used. In this
scale, there are 14 items related to different aspects of family, occupation and income. This
scale is able to determine the socio-economic status and bring correct information about
socio-economic position of an individual.

Due to strong social stigma attached, even in Mumbai, with the female heroinaddicts, they avoided meeting and interview with any stranger. They felt danger,
discomfort and were suspicious at first which dissipated gradually after adequate rapport
was established and
they were assured that their responses would be kept strictly
confidential and their identity would not be disclosed. Cases selected for study were
administered the tests individually and in groups as the situation permitted.
Data and its Analysis
The data obtained on personality traits by the two samples are given in Table no. 1.
Table - 1
Sl.
No
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Traits

Addicts(N-140)

n-ach.
n-def.
n-ord
n-exh.
n-aut.
n-aff.
n-int.
n-suc.
n-dom.
n-aba.
n-nur.
n-chg.
n-end.
n-het.
n-agg.

Mean
6.91
6.66
6.99
4.08
5.99
5.62
4.76
6.53
4.31
7.11
7.57
4.72
7.23
2.91
4.90

SD
1.88
1.76
1.96
2.83
1.86
2.15
2.78
2.59
2.77
1.76
1.48
2.78
1.53
3.29
2.50

Non-addicts(N-140)
Mean
7.04
7.34
7.82
4.39
5.14
6.81
6.16
5.97
5.50
6.19
7.61
6.96
6.95
2.59
3.94

SD
2.10
1.62
1.58
1.93
1.78
1.85
2.40
1.95
2.34
1.49
1.45
1.94
1.46
2.25
2.00

t
0.548
3.285**
3.97**
1.08
4.065**
5.04**
4.545**
1.984*
0.495
4.920**
0.231
7.94**
1.363
0.958
3.582**

Note - *(P<0.05)
**(P<0.01)
Rest of t values are not significant.
It is evident from the above table that only on n-aut; n-suc., n-aba., n-end. and n-het. and nagg. need traits women heroin-addicts scored higher mean value than their non-addict
counterparts. On some traits women heroin-addicts have obtained lower mean score than
non-addicts. These traits are n-ach., n-def., n-ord., n-exh., n-aff., n-int., n-dom., n-nur. and
n-chg.

All the 15 normal personality traits have been compared and t test is applied to determine
the significance of difference between scores on personality traits in women heroin-addicts.
It is obvious from Table No. 1 that t values are significant on some personality traits of
women heroin-addicts in comparison to non-addicts. Traits which, statistically, have been
found significant are - n-def., n-ord., n-aut., n-aff., n-int., n-suc., n-aba., n-chg. and n-agg.
As regards locus of control, women heroin-addicts are significantly different from nonaddicts and are externally controlled.
Socio-economic Status
The women heroin-addicts and non-addicts were compared on socio-economic status scale
and were found unmatched on this variable which is well understandable and consonant
with sociological findings. Thus, it is concluded that women heroin-addicts come from
lower socio-economic strata.

To study the personality of women heroin-addicts, 15 normal personality traits have been
taken for the determination of correlation of all 15 need traits with criterion (H.A.).
Multiple coefficient of correlation has been worked-out. Thus, it is concluded that n-ord.,
n-aff. and n-suc. traits exhibit significant relationship with the criterion. Though 15 normal
personality traits have been taken for studying the personality of women heroin-addicts,
these traits not only assess the personality but also are capable of predicting the proneness
to addiction on the basis of regression equation.

The picture of women heroin-addicts emerging from the observation and analysis of data
from the present study reveals that on four need variables viz. n-aut., n-suc., n-aba., and nagg. women heroin-addicts have scored higher than non-addicts and the differences are
statistically significant in identifying. Similarly, women heroin-addicts have scored
significantly low on the traits of n-ord., n-aff., n-int., n-chg. and n-def. Traits of n-ach., nexh., n-dom., n-nur., n-end. and n-heterosexuality cound not distinguish the two samples
under study.

The study has drawn the following broad conclusions:

Women heroin-addicts want total freedom in adhering to custom, values, responsibilities
and obligations of society due to uncongenial familial atmosphere. They possess strong
super-ego or crippled super-ego and are unable to control their instinctual drives and
healthy super-ego. Thus, they suffer from inferiority complex guilty-feeling, feeling of
fear, depression, lack the tendency to accept blame and punishment easily etc. It is a
common feature of women heroin-addicts that they sustain frustration, aggression also.

They blame others, damage things, take revenge for insult and show tendency to take
recourse to heated arguments for contradicting ideas etc.
Other peculiarities of women heroin-addicts are disloyalty to friends, lack of
attachment and rude behaviour with others. They do not hesitate going out with the
members of opposite sex and becoming sexually excited and engage themselves actively in
discussion about sex matters and in reading sex related books and plays.
Locus of Control
So far as locus of control is concerned, women heroin-addicts possess external locus of
control which indicates their belief that their success or failure is controlled by the external
forces.
Socio-economic Status
Though this variable does not fall within the psychological realm, in view of availability of
data, women heroin-addicts and non-addicts were compared on the variable of socioeconomic status and were found to have differed on this variable.
As the finding of this research and those of earlier studies suggest that for women heroinaddicts the out side world is of paramount significance. It is important to note that due to
drug taking behaviour they become concerningly misfit for the outside world. Rather, all
efforts should be directed towards making them more compatible with the society at large
and well adjusted when they return to clean life. So, there is a need to strengthen the
family system and re-establish the moral values in society. Absence of these values give
birth to drug-addicts who, in most cases, lack self-discipline.
The psychological state of women heroin-addicts make them feel remorseful and resolute.
Therefore, it is important for them to spend their time in useful activities like education and
vocational training after de-addiction. They may be put to work in specially established
factories and industrial homes with adequate medical follow-up. They should be paid
decent wages for the work. In this way they can also support their families which would
contribute to lessen their guilt and anxiety. Moreover, their earning may help them in
rehabilitation process and thus, it will serve the cause of humanity as well as that of the
society and social justice and curb the crime rate as well.
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* The author is an ex- Research Fellow of BPR&D

Centre,