Article Analysis Essay on Personality Correlates of Hallucinogen Use

Introduction

The research titled Personality Correlates of Hallucinogen Use (Khavari, Mabry & Humes, 1977) was conducted to identify the significant connection between personality and the use of psychedelic drugs as determined by psychological tests which are not perceived as the usual psychopathology tests. The study was interested in identifying the classification of psychedelic drugs as more than mere users and non- users. The paper predicted that the results could be achieved if the methodology applied three steps. The first step would be to use psychological tests that were well-known yet seldom used. The second step would be to use adults who were paid volunteers and were obtained from labor unions and did not have a special requirement in regards to the use or nonuse of psychedelics or any other drugs. The final step would be to design data analysis in such a way that that multivariate analysis procedure was applied.

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Methodology

The authors used both quantitative and qualitative resources to achieve their results. The participants included 298 adults who were aged between 18-40 years old. The participants we both male and female paid volunteers who were drawn from the working population in the large industrial metropolitan area. The participants were not randomly drawn. The authors applied the first phase of a broad program of research, which is still in progress to obtain their data. Each participant was tested for drugs using an assortment of psychological tests, which included personality tests as well as necessary tasks. The entire session of the trials ranged between 3-5 hours, with each patient being paid the agreed amount per hour.

The patients were tested using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) test, Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) test, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS), and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS). Furthermore, the participants were also asked to complete the Wisconsin Substance Use Inventory test (WSUI) which obtained data on pat and current behavior in relation to drug use for the 19 types of drugs and substances and provided the participant's complete involvement with drugs. This methodology focused on the drug-taking practices that were associated with four categories of hallucinogens such as Marijuana, LSD, Hashish, among Other Psychedelics. In regards to data collection, WSUI was a self-reporting instrument which recorded the results as "not at all," "less often than monthly," "about once a month," "about once a week," "several times a week," "daily," and "several times a day." The instrument recorded the value of every level of use ranging from zero to seven with zero, meaning that the participant has never used drugs. From there, the mean and standard deviation are carried out for each drug, followed by a normalized T score transformation using the mean and standard deviation.

Findings and Discussion

The results of this journal indicate that there is a two-dimensional interpretation of the connection between personality and drug use variables. The first dimension mirrors a relationship between personal needs, such as seeking new experiences as well as all forms of hallucinogenic drug use, particularly the use of Marijuana and Hashish. However, the second dimension designates that Marijuana use is highly associated with the need for social approval as well as the tendency to be uninhibited socially. Moreover, the pattern of negative weights on this variate indicate that LSD, Hashish, and Other Psychedelics scores are associated with the manifestation of generalized needs for social stimulation, anxiety, and extroversion/introversion variables. The dimension identifies both sophisticated and straightforward sides of the application of Hallucinogenic drugs. The research also indicates that the first dimension which is stronger than the second dimension related to the use of hallucinogens to seeking an experience which is not unexpected and is described as a "hippie" factor. Furthermore, the article explains the connection was not surprising since seeking experience is often associated with participation in countercultural activities. Such activities may include using drugs and since Marijuana is easily accessible as compared to other drugs thus the strong score for Marijuana confirms its use as a source of satisfaction for people who desire new experiences which are probably deviant.

The second dimension is more complicated as it presents a form of association between drug-use variables and personality attributes. The authors indicate that there were positive weights for SDS and disinhibition and negative weights for TMAS, Extroversion, and General Sensation Seeking thus meaning that the connection between the use of Marijuana and personality characteristics were not limited to the need to seek new experiences or defiance. Moreover, the study points out that the scores of Marijuana were differentiated from other substances through various factors. Such factors included the need for self-impressions that were favorable and effective when interacting with others (SDS), the need to engage in methods of self-expression that were uninhibited (Disinhibition scores) as well as general sensation seeking. The ratings also reflected the absence of general tendencies for seeking self-satisfaction as well as low anxiety manifestation are factors that further differentiate Marijuana from other substances.

The second dimension indicates that LSD, Hashish, and the other psychedelics scores were linked with TMAS and General Sensation Seeking and not SDS and Disinhibition. This suggests that these drugs are associated with a set of personality characteristics that are different. The journal further points out that there are differences between Marijuana users and those who use hallucinogenic or psychedelic drugs that are more powerful. Users of Marijuana were reported to be more rebellious, introspective, unconventional, and gregarious as compared to nonusers. The authors conclude by indicating that the data provided in the study is a considerable validation of their findings. The journal shows that it is evident that personality scales which measure selected dimensions of manifestation of anxiety, sensation seeking, needs for social approval, as well as extroversion/introversion can be used to predict a significant amount of variance when measuring for the use of hallucinogenic drugs. The journal also indicates that the personality tests differentiate between the various categories of using psychedelic drugs to the extent that they are not equally suited for use as predictors across the types of substances that are used. Therefore, the journal urges researchers to be well acquainted with both the utility as well as the differential capacity of the different personality measures when providing information that is generalized and meaningful in regards to the relationship between personality and the use of hallucinogenic drug use.

Critical Review

The article is directed to the other psychological researchers. To emphasize this notion, the authors have applied terms that are sophisticated for the general public to understand; thus, the public may be unable to find information from this article as useful or relatable. In addition, the authors develop an innovative way that they use to determine the different personality attributes that are associated with hallucinogenic drug use. From the article, it is clear that the authors are concerned with the general variable of either user or non-user without considering that there might be a third category.

The study also incorporates the logos and ethos appeal to relate to the intended targets. Various statistical analyses have been incorporated into the study. The authors have also included previous researches to emphasize their points. This approach is excellent since the authors aimed to appeal to the reasoning aspect of their readers in such a way that their journal would result in discussion or further research to prove the validity of the information. Ethos was applied when the authors introduced their positions as well as an authority by indicating their employment positions along with their introduction. However, the paper does not use pathos since the authors do not intend to appeal to the emotions of the reader but to their logical sides.

Despite the articulate nature of the article, the authors failed to indicate their concluding thoughts in regards to the study they conducted. The conclusion would have been effective in summarizing their main points as well as their ideas on the best course of action that can be implemented to make the research more effective. If I were to change the article, I would only add the concluding remarks, which would be a summary of the study as well as the authors' thoughts on the findings and discussions of the research.

References

Khavari, K. A., Mabry, E., & Humes, M. (1977). Personality correlates of hallucinogen use. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86(2), 172-178. doi:10.1037//0021-843x.86.2.172