There are five models used to explain causes of alcohol dependence. Two of these are biological models. The other three are a psychological model, a sociological model, and a biopsychosociological model.
The Five Models of Alcohol Dependence
The two biological models offer a physiological and a genetic explanation for alcoholism. The psychological model concentrates on personality traits predisposing a person’s alcoholism. However, in response to this model’s failure to discover the unique alcoholic personality, sociological models of etiology were proposed. The biopsychosocial approach claims alcoholism is a combination of biological, psychological and sociological factors.
The Biological Models of Alcohol Dependence
The first biological approaches theorized that physiological or structural anomaly causes predisposes alcoholism. Early hypotheses suggested that alcohol dependence could be due to metabolic, glandular, or body chemistry anomalies. Some even suggested alcoholism could be an allergic reaction. Most U.S. treatment providers consider alcoholism a physical disease, according to Stephen A. Maisto in his book Drug Use and Abuse, Fifth Edition, published in 2008.
Later biological models suggest genetic disposition to alcoholism. Studies of families, twins, and adoptions suggest genetic factors in alcohol dependence. Family studies show that children with alcoholic parents are four times more likely to have adult alcoholism. Studies show that identical twins are susceptible to alcoholism in concordance than in fraternal twins.
Research on adopted children of alcoholic parents further supports a genetic causes of alcoholism. The studies show that alcoholism correlates more with the child’s genetic parents than the adoptive household environment. Some research suggests that up to 50 percent of variance in etiology of alcohol dependence is caused by genetic factors, according to Maisto.
The Psychological Model of Alcohol Dependence
Psychological models attempt to find the prototype alcoholic personality. This prototype personality, in theory, will help predict who is more likely to be alcoholic. Certain personality dimensions, correlating with alcoholism are neuroticism, extraversion, and impulsivity, according to Maisto. However, the research data has been inconclusive.
The Sociological Model of Alcohol Dependence
Sociological models suggest that social factors cause predisposition to alcoholism. Research found demographic factors as well as cultural factors play a role in predisposition to alcohol dependence. Native Americans have significantly higher alcoholism rates. Thirty-two percent of Native Americans live below the poverty line, compared to only 13 percent of the general population, according to a pamphlet published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2007, titled “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Native Americans.” This affects access to public healthcare and other important social resources, which may play a role in higher alcoholism rates. Demographic factors play a large role in alcoholism among Native Americans.
After World War II most countries increased alcohol consumption and therefore one would think more alcohol dependence. However, this was not the case in Japan. The country did drink more alcohol, just like any other nation, but did not experience significant increased alcoholism.
In Japanese culture, alcohol is part of social and religious rituals. However, customs tend to discourage alcohol abuse, therefore alcohol dependence is relatively rare in Japan. On the other hand, another reason that the Japanese did not develop an epidemic of alcoholism may be that Asian people cannot process alcohol as well as other ethnicities, Maisto claimed in his book.
The Biopsychosocial Model of Alcohol Dependence
The case of the Japanese suggests that alcoholism may have a combination of biological, psychological, and sociological causes. This brings about the biopsychosocial approach to etiology, which claims that not one single factor can explain alcoholism. This approach offers that a mix of all the past approaches to etiology offers a more accurate picture of alcohol dependence. Which factors play a bigger role may depend on each individual circumstance.
Le Bach Pham - After graduating from UCSD with a bachelor of art in English Literature, I am now a web writer for Demand Studios where I write web ...
