Alcoholism
Psychologists consider alcoholism a mental disorder. Alcoholism characterizes familiar patterns of alcohol consumption that results in problems with controlling drinking rate, and continuous use of alcohol despite the effects generated on family members and others in the society. When alcoholism turns into a chronic progressive habit it becomes both a mental illness and a disease. Alcoholism is a form of addiction comparable to other diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Similar to these medical conditions, alcoholism develops from environmental, behavioral, and biological factors. Biological factors include genetic matter, half of those with parents having consumption problems are most likely to become alcoholics. Alcoholism also develops a progressive disorder just as diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Various models explain the causes of alcoholism. The psychodynamic approach explores how mental and emotional functions of individuals result in the development of an addiction problem. Based on this model, alcoholism develops from emotions and psychological issues such as depression, unresolved conflict, and dysfunctional social relations, among others. Ideally, mental and emotional problems increase chances of turning to alcohol and drug consumption as a relief. The sociocultural model explores the triggers of the development of alcoholism from the attitudes and beliefs of society on alcohol consumption. Culture affects behaviour, therefore it may either uphold or eradicate alcohol consumption and addiction. For instance, the United States culture is tolerant and considers intoxication humorous. There are several media channels, stand comedies among others that depict intoxication as entertaining. Such as culture promotes addiction behavior, as activities such as drunk driving are considered misdemeanors. On the other societies such as Saudi Arabia outlaw intoxication based on Sharia law, therefore alcoholism is rare in such as community.
Behavioral model is approach that argues that behaviour is generated from the conditioned learning from others in the society. Behaviour is shaped by responses to external stimuli. According to the behaviorist model, alcoholism is a condition triggered from social challenges such as family and relationship issues. Therefore, addiction is behavioral conditioning that serves as a positive reinforcement to handle adverse problems affecting an individual.
Cognitive model explore alcoholism in terms of beliefs and attitudes. Conventionally, there are those take alcohol socially and never get to the point of addiction. Others get engrossed in alcohol consumption until they develop the habit. Cognitive factors that promote the development of alcoholism, include the inability to control subjective craving for alcohol there are those who build alcoholism because they believe they cannot stop cravings, increased impulsive decision making from alcohol consumption also promotes addictive behavior. Impaired inhibitory control over behavior is also an effect of alcohol consumption that results in addiction.
The humanistic model has different theories. However, according to Abraham Maslow, there are five categories of human needs that motivate the development of behavior and actions. Therefore, alcoholism is as a result of frustration from the inability to achieve human needs. It is a form of escapism used alcoholics to avoid the pressure of having to deal with the mental issues, and frustration that comes with failure.
The biological model explores alcoholism in terms of natural forces and genetic factors. Ideally genetics results in about 50% of addiction. In most cases if the parent has a problem with alcohol consumption then the child is most likely to inherit the problem. Other biological factors include the effect of alcohol as a drug since it alters the normal functioning of the body; it is easier to get addicted while maintaining the feeling alcohol provides to the body.
Biopsychosocial model explore a multidimensional perspective of addiction including the biological, the psychological and environmental factors. Genetic factors may result in the inheritance of alcoholism from parents. Psychological issues, such as depression also increase the chances of individuals developing alcoholism. Factors such as dysfunctional social relations are environmental factors that promote the development of addiction. All these factors are autonomous yet interrelated.