The social-psychological theory is most useful for

Question

How would you respond?

1. The social-psychological theory is most useful for explaining the differences between why some people become alcoholics and others do not. Personality traits identified as vulnerable are susceptible to alcoholism to deal with inadequacy and cope with anxiety (Thio, p. 351). This lends to the alcoholic joining a group and exasperating alcohol use through praise and self-efficacy. The excessive use evolves to a loss of self-control and prior rewarding is replaced with rejection. The alcoholic seeks acceptance from other abusive drinkers that will support the behavior and subsequently resulting in deep-seeded alcoholism (Thio, p. 352). The social theory helps explain the factors that contribute to alcoholism within groups. Members of groups can engage in behavior that creates inner tension with other members. Patterns of abuse and oppression can cause guilt, hostility, and other forms of frustration. The group endorses the use of alcohol as a means to address the inner tensions and results in high rates of alcoholism (Thio, p. 352). The endorsement of alcohol as a stress reliever provides no other avenues for group members to address tension release (Thio, p. 353). A biological predisposition theory asserts that genetic factors contribute to alcoholism (Thio, p. 49). Coupling this theory with cultural and social factors would support that certain groups will have high rates of alcoholism due to genetics and factors supported by cultural groups. Using the example in the book; if the Irish peasants had biological disposition it may be theorized that the cultural factors stemmed from genetics also. Each of the alcoholism factors, genetics and cultural, perpetuate the other increasing the risk of alcoholism in the group.
2. Medical scientist and psychiatrist believes that some individuals are vulnerable to the biological predisposition of alcoholism due to genetics. These individuals have done research to see how can alcohol can originate from various physical problems. Some such as, nutritional deficiencies , glandular disorders, and malfunctions of the central nervous system( Deviant Behavior pg. 349 Alex Thio, Jim D. Taylor, Martin D. Shawartz 11ed). Then you have the psychologist who believe that alcoholism stems from certain traits an individual have. Some examples can be negative personality traits such as anti social, rebellious, egocentric, gregarious , hyperactive, passive dependent, depressed, anxious and even hostile can lead to vulnerability towards alcoholism. Sociologist believe that alcoholism is due to your environment. For example, maybe growing up in an environment where there is a liquor store on every corner, can influence someone to drink.Some social cultural influences that may trigger alcoholism from a biological predisposition could be hanging out with the wrong crowd of people who drink as a sport, using drinking a a way to cope with your problems, believing that "since my father was an alchoholic I must be one too", or peer pressure.