Alcoholism - and any addiction for that matter is extremely complex. Getting to the root of what causes alcoholism and addiction certainly isn't straightforward.
Genetic factors and the fact that alcoholism and addiction is hereditary in many cases, certainly does play a role. But that only explains part of the story because ultimately we're all shaped by our environmental influences - parents, family, peers, experiences, media etc.
So when considering the impact our psychological makeup plays in drug addiction and alcoholism - our psychological makeup is largely formed in our formative childhood years - mostly from our family environment, particularly our parents.
If we are brought up in a home environment that is mostly supportive, loving, stable and secure - we'll tend to develop a healthy sense of who are, good self-esteem and be fairly well-adjusted.
Or if when we're young we, we have a more traumatic childhood - which could mean anything from losing a parent, having one of our parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, our parents divorcing, or anything that really effects us emotionally - it could result in us developing various ways to cope with that, which can then manifest in our lives in all sorts of different ways.
These could include any or a combination of anger, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, withdrawing from society, excessive fear and worry, and substance abuse - which in turn can lead to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Chances are - speak to an alcoholic or drug addict - that there will be a significant trauma or event that affected them, most likely when they were young. In my case it was having an alcoholic parent and the strain that put on our family.
Of course that won't always be the case and I'm sure you'll find many drug addicts and alcoholics who came from stable, loving and supportive environments. But when looking at alcoholism and psychology - and trying to understand the psychology of alcoholism and drug addiction, hopefully you'll now have a better understanding of things. - 15359
Genetic factors and the fact that alcoholism and addiction is hereditary in many cases, certainly does play a role. But that only explains part of the story because ultimately we're all shaped by our environmental influences - parents, family, peers, experiences, media etc.
So when considering the impact our psychological makeup plays in drug addiction and alcoholism - our psychological makeup is largely formed in our formative childhood years - mostly from our family environment, particularly our parents.
If we are brought up in a home environment that is mostly supportive, loving, stable and secure - we'll tend to develop a healthy sense of who are, good self-esteem and be fairly well-adjusted.
Or if when we're young we, we have a more traumatic childhood - which could mean anything from losing a parent, having one of our parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, our parents divorcing, or anything that really effects us emotionally - it could result in us developing various ways to cope with that, which can then manifest in our lives in all sorts of different ways.
These could include any or a combination of anger, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, withdrawing from society, excessive fear and worry, and substance abuse - which in turn can lead to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Chances are - speak to an alcoholic or drug addict - that there will be a significant trauma or event that affected them, most likely when they were young. In my case it was having an alcoholic parent and the strain that put on our family.
Of course that won't always be the case and I'm sure you'll find many drug addicts and alcoholics who came from stable, loving and supportive environments. But when looking at alcoholism and psychology - and trying to understand the psychology of alcoholism and drug addiction, hopefully you'll now have a better understanding of things. - 15359
About the Author:
Carl-Peter writes more in depth on the Psychology of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction on his website. Articles of his that are especially popular are the one on Depression and Alcoholism and the other one on Alcoholism and Anxiety.
