Etiology of Alcoholism

Etiology of Alcoholism: Genetic or Learned Behavior?

Katie Law

Abnormal Psychology

Dr. James Burger

May 4, 2003

Etiology of Alcoholism: Genetic or Learned Behavior?

Alcoholism, unfortunately, affects many individuals ranging from youth to elderly. Arguments are presented from many different perspectives and most either take a stand that alcoholism is genetic or learned behavior. I do not intend to take a stand for either, but do intend to explore the etiology of this disorder. I also intend to research the effects alcoholism has on verbal, physical, domestic, and sexual abuse and if alcoholics are more likely than non-alcoholics to take part in the different forms of abuse.

Alcohol has been around for many years and the dependency and addiction it causes is more prevalent among the younger generations now than it ever has been. The question frequently brought to mind is; Is alcohol abuse and addiction caused by genetic factors or is it a learned behavior? Quite a bit of research has been made available to the public on this very argument. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism informed the public that adolescents who begin drinking before the age of fifteen are five times more likely to become dependent than those who begin drinking at the age twenty-one (3). Does that mean that alcoholism is genetic or a learned behavior? Within this paper, I plan to explore both sides of the etiology of alcohol abuse and research the effects alcoholism has on verbal, physical, domestic, and sexual abuse.

I chose to do this paper on the etiology of alcohol abuse: genetic or learned behaviors, because of a few individuals close to me that have been affected negatively by someone who had been diagnosed with alcoholism. Alcohol abuse was very common, but only after long bouts of excessive drinking. I want to explore the different aspects of why alcoholism occurs and what the most common types of abuse it leads to.

Quite a few of the sources that I have found support the genetics theory. Many state that alcoholism occurs more likely in children or adults whose parents were or are alcoholics. There are also many articles that support how alcoholism is a psychological disorder and is learned through modeling and by actually partaking in the consumption of alcohol. Throughout this paper the different aspects of alcoholism and states of abuse associated with alcohol will be explored.

There is quite a bit of controversy over whether alcoholics are alcoholics, not because they abuse the drug, but because their parents were alcoholics also. According to the article, “A Tight Pair of Genes,” in Psychology Today, “studies have been performed and results prove that sixty percent of alcoholics have at least one alcoholic parent” (5).

Another possibility researchers are contemplating is that one gene in the brain affects the ability of brain cells to react to dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is active in pleasure responses, because it does not have enough receptors to react with it. Therefore, the individual uses alcohol to self medicate himself in an attempt to boost dopamine levels. Even though these are all just theories and possibilities, one should not just brush them aside.

In the previous paragraphs there was some speculation on how chemicals within a person’s brain might be to blame. There is also research on personalities and how they are to blame. The two main types of personalities discussed are excitement-seeking, in which, the attitudes demonstrate adventuresome behavior and social-deviant, in which, attitudes demonstrate social problems. According to a study of about 1300 pairs of twins, published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, “it was found that social-deviant personalities are more likely to have alcohol-related problems and excitement-seeking personalities are more likely to consume more heavily than the latter” (7). It makes quite a bit of sense when one considers the extreme differences in environment that the two different types of personalities experience.

Alcoholism is a disease, but does not come about uncontrollably. The researchers that believe and are researching that alcoholism is a learned behavior, have more of an advantage as opposed to the genetics researcher. Alcohol is not necessary for anyone’s body just like smoking, sex, or illegal drugs are not either. Many people don’t believe that smoking or STDs are genetic even though they live a very similar lifestyle to that of an alcoholic. They smoke the nicotine and tobacco that produce lung cancer, and they have unprotected sex. Therefore, they bestow these diseases upon themselves. Why then is it any different with alcoholics? Why aren’t researchers researching if smoking cigarettes and having sex are genetic also?

According to Timothy Baker of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, “An individual chooses to take drugs in this world” (6). Bruce Bower, author of the article “Intoxicating Habits,” states that “many expectations and beliefs about alcohol’s power to make one feel better inhibit the choices leading to the frequency and addiction of alcohol intake” (6). Addiction is a very serious topic also. One may not even realize he is addicted to a certain drug and, as a result, fail to receive treatment for it. The individual may find he routinely consumes large amounts of alcohol, but sees no need for alarm because he is accustomed to it.

Many television shows, movies, and media that are presented to the public portray alcoholism as a genetic behavior. Quite a few blame their disease on a parent that was an alcoholic or believe they will become an alcoholic because one or more of their parents or relatives is an alcoholic. It is hard to determine whether the media can accurately depict what research suggests. According to the article “Alcohol Abuse,” “Alcoholism can best describe as a blend of genetic, physical, psychological, environmental, and social factors that all can vary in each individual” (2). Many articles do suggest that both learned behaviors and genetic factors account for the disease occurring in a large percentage of individuals.

It can be hard to determine if a person is an alcoholic or just likes to drink socially. According to the text Understanding Abnormal Behavior, “Many alcohol abusers don’t show antisocial behaviors or have a history of showing antisocial behaviors” (8). Individuals who abuse alcohol many be depressed and may also exhibit forms of abuse on themselves and others, much like the following scenario.

Frank enjoyed drinking alcohol, like many people do, except that he exhibited some unusual behaviors when he drank. Often he stayed out late and poured in the early morning hours smelling of alcohol. It didn’t matter that he was a husband and a father of ten, he had already warned everybody to stay out of his way. Fred had been married to his wife for quite some time and treated her mostly with respect. He also had three, of his ten children, still under the age of ten whom loved being with their father and missed him when he went out drinking every night. To his family, it didn’t seem like much was wrong because he drank occasionally, until he started to drink in excess. He started staying out later and got very violent when he came home.

One night he took a swing at his wife and, instead of shooting her, left her crouching in the corner. One of his daughters heard the commotion and came in. She was shocked to see a gun pointing at her head and a crazed look in her father’s eyes. She knew right then that her father had a terrible problem. Her mother got up and knocked the gun away while her daughter called the police. The police made it there quickly and took him into custody. After that day, his wife wanted nothing to do with him, so she took her ten children and moved. All of their children are now grown and two out of ten are alcoholics. Does that prove that genetics are to blame or was it the environment they were raised in? Unfortunately, there is no definite answer and probably never will be.

Alcohol causes many abusive behaviors. According to the article “Alcoholism,” “Most women who have male partners that abuse alcohol are most at risk for domestic violence” (10). The article also stated, “Children whose parents are alcoholics do worse academically than others” (10). “Children from alcoholic homes are also at greater risk of developing depression and life long coping problems” (4).

Alcoholism can bring about many problems in life that usually affect more than just a couple people. There is still a lot of research available exploring both sides, but because everybody has different opinions it is hard to determine a definite cause when exploring alcoholism. Alcohol impairs one’s sense of perception so one may easily act without thinking. Quite a bit of abuse occurs as a result, but there is yet to be a definite cause on when and why somebody is diagnosed an alcoholic. Abuse is also a common behavior of many diagnosed alcoholics but can also be common among casual drinkers.

The story above is an actual event that happened many years ago. Although, it didn’t happen directly to me, it affected me and that is why I chose to do my paper on alcoholism. I doubt that there will ever be a direct reason of what causes alcoholism, but in the mean time there is lots of research out there that is made available to anyone wanting help or answers about alcoholism.

Works Cited

1. Alcoholism and Genetics. 1998. Retrieved May 1,

2004, from

www.accd.edu/sac/psychol/2301.090/alcohol.html

2. Alcohol Abuse. Retrieved April 28, 2004, from

www.lebanonhealth.com/condi/191.htm

3. Alcohol and Teen Drinking. Focus Adolescent

Services, Retrieved April 28, 2004, from

www.focusas.com/Alcohol.html

4. Anda, R.F., Chapman, D., Dube, S.R., Edwards,

V.J., Felitti, V.J., Whitfield, C.L. (2002).

Adverse, childhood experiences, alcoholic