Drug abuse and alcoholism are among the major determinants of behavioral and psychological disorders in the family. Over the years, alcoholism has been a major cause of evil and mental impediment in society. This psychology paper tries to unravel the postulation as to whether there is chance of an extended family having no alcohol addict. According to behavioral psychology, all the behaviors exhibited by a person depend on the conditions of the habitat.
Null hypothesis: It is not possible to have an extended family without a victim of alcohol addiction
Alternative hypothesis: There is a chance of having an extended family without a victim of alcohol addiction
In this research problem, we research on the likelihood of having an extended family that has no alcohol drug addict. In order to carry out the research of testing these hypotheses, a qualitative research method shall be used. It is more advantageous to use descriptive method in this case because there is need to provide a lot of information concerning different families in various settings. Furthermore, it is not easy to have quantitative results for all families in the world.
In this work, the dependent variables include the environmental and geographical location of a family, the family financial background, the biological background and genetic domination of the family, social environment, susceptibility to mental pressure and stress vulnerability.
The independent variables in the research include age, gender, position in the family, and the size of the family, the type of food eaten, economic activities engaged in, race, religion, skin colour and level of education.
In order to understand the topic, it is necessary to study both variables in detail.
Dependent variables
The environmental and geographical location of a family
People staying near alcoholic zones or areas where alcoholic drinks are brewed are likely to take the drug through curiosity. Residents of places far from drinking zones are less vulnerable to alcohol curiosity and anxiety.
The family financial background
The poor consume a lot of alcohol as an instant way of forgetting their problems. The rich on the other hand engage in alcoholic behavior because they can afford it. Therefore, both the rich and the poor are susceptible to alcoholism.
Social environment
Pressures from the people the family members interact with affect the decisions each of the member makes. Peer group influence may lead to alcoholism or deter family members from alcoholism depending on individual decisions.
The Genetic factor
The question as to whether alcoholism has genetic affiliation is still under research. Scientists found out that there is an additional gene that alcoholic drug addicts have which can be passed from one generation to another. Although it is under debate, researchers found a particular gene series that is likely to lead to addiction for its bearers. There is higher likelihood of alcoholic parents giving birth to children who may develop alcoholism behavior at some time later in their lives. Therefore, it is important to note the dominant genes carried by family members in a bid to determine addiction in its members.
Mental Illness
The mental status of ancestors from whom the family came is important. Mental confusion leads to a state of vulnerability to abuse. Approximately 4-50 per cent of people with mental illnesses suffer from alcohol abuse as compared to mentally sound people. Therefore, depending on the parents, some mental instability may be inherited by children. Mental illness leads to build-up of anxiety and depression which is the chief contributory factors that lead to alcoholism. Since they are all vulnerable, there is a likelihood of the whole family being involved in alcoholism.
Structure of the brain
Researchers found out that some people can take alcohol for a long time without getting addicted. Such people have a large frontal lobe which leads to their attainment of better self-control standards. The frontal lobe is necessary for decision making, support, balance and self-control. However, people with small frontal lobes have a disadvantage of becoming addicted to any drugs they might take.
Age of introduction and exposure to alcohol
Generally, people who get exposed to the use of alcohol earlier in their lives have higher chances of becoming addicted than those who start taking alcohol later in their lives.
Independent factors
Age family members
Age is not an important factor in determining alcoholism prevalence. Some people get exposed to alcoholic foods and drinks at ages as early as 2 years while others develop drinking habits when they attain independence. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the objective of this research without factoring in age.
Gender and family issues
Alcoholism addiction can affect both male and female. Therefore, regardless of gender, anybody in the family may be prone to it. The position in the family is also not important just as the size of the family. It is possible to have a large or small family made up of drunkards or sober minded people. Addiction has a place in either of the cases. According to research conducted by Bates (2013), the addiction does not depend on race, level of education and type of economic activity one engages in.
Discussion and conclusion
- A family is prone to genetic mutations of either of the following reasons:
- A family is exposed to risk factors like peer pressure, nearness to alcohol zones
- A family is likely to have curious people who want to experiment
- Any family either falls in the class of the rich, the intermediate or the poor
Therefore we reject the alternative hypothesis and embrace the null hypothesis. It states that it is not possible to have an extended family without a victim of alcohol addiction.
References
Bates, C. (2013, January 18). Why only some people become addicted to drugs: Scans of cocaine users reveal the shape of your brain could be to blame | Mail Online. Home | Mail Online. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2264596/Why-people-addicted-drugs-Scans-cocaine-users-reveal-shape-brain-blame.html
Thrush, H. (2012, August 20). Why People Become Addicted to Drugs & Alcohol. The Best Inpatient Drug Rehab Centre in Asia with Excellent Facilities. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://www.thecabinchiangmai.com/archive/why_people_become_addicted_to_drugs_
