Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biological susceptibility
Genetic evidence
Family history
Children of alcoholics (COA)
If father alcoholic,
25% sons affected
5-10% of daughters
Genetic evidence
Twin studies
MZ 100% genes
DZ 50% genes
Reared together
Alcoholism in
55% MZ twins
28% DZ twins
Adoption studies
Acetaldehyde may
combine with brain
chemicals to give
opiate-like high
Acetaldehyde also
toxic to liver and
heart.
Medical complications
Brain response to novelty
Related to biology?
Reward seeking.
Impulsive.
Easily bored.
Risk takers
Gregarious
Push the limits
Act out
Social factors
Alcoholism high in
some cultures:
Americans, Swiss,
Irish, Poles.
Low in others:
Chinese, Greeks,
Orthodox Jews
Alcoholism is low in cultures where
Children learn alcohol
is a beverage.
Served in dilute forms.
Abstain okay.
Parents model
moderate drinking
Getting drunk not seen
as comical.
Everyone knows
ground rules.
Alcoholism is higher in cultures where
No ground rules.
Mixed messages from different
individuals and groups.
Getting drunk okay? Funny?
Heavy drinking is encouraged.
Drinking a sign of masculinity or
adulthood.
Media images of alcohol