2/17/2018 Nature vs Nurture

Alcoholism

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile

JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106
 Nature vs Nurture

Contents
Nature Vs. Nurture – Alcoholism .................................................................................................................. 2
Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................... 5

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile | JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106

 Nature vs Nurture

Nature Vs. Nurture – Alcoholism

Nature Nurture

Genetic Coding/DNA – genes that are responsible Surviving a Traumatic Experience/Stress – turning
for alcoholism (Howard J. Edenberg, 2013) to alcohol as a coping mechanism (Enoch, 2011)
(Buckner, et al., 2008)

Mental Illness – self medicating with alcohol to
relieve symptoms of mental illness (anxiety,
depression) (Kathleen R. Merikangas, James F.
Leckman, Brigette A. Prusoff, & al, 1985)
Race/Culture – Culture and race can contribute to
AUD (Chartier, 2017)
Family History – a history of alcoholism in your
immediate family tree increases risk of developing
AUD (Grant & Dawson, 1997)
Peer Pressure – societal standards or peers who
consume alcohol can lead to AUD (Enoch, Genetic
and Environmental Influences on the Development
of Alcoholism , 2007)
Accessibility to Alcohol – having alcohol easily
accessible makes developing AUD more common
(Emshoff, 2019)
Flawed Parenting – Abusive or absent parents can
lead to the development of alcoholism (Brent
Finger, 2010)

Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined as a severe drinking problem. (Nordqvist,

2018). When discussing alcoholism, there is an ongoing debate on whether a person is born with the

biological predisposition to become an alcoholic or that battling with alcohol addiction is due to the

environment surrounding them that initiates the abuse. While there is enough evidence for both side of

this nature vs nurture topic, we strongly believe that it is the environmental (nurture) factors that are

more responsible for this disorder.

Trauma and stress, whether it be a social anxiety disorder, financial stress or a traumatic life

experience can increase the risk of developing alcohol dependencies (Buckner, et al., 2008) (Enoch, The

Role of Early Life Stress as a Predictor for Alcohol and Drug Dependence, 2011). Individuals who do not

have an increased amount of stress or trauma in their lives are at less of a risk as they do not feel the

need to self medicate to remove the feelings brought on by their negative experiences. Alcohol is a

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile | JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106

 Nature vs Nurture

depressant by nature and is seen as soothing or therapeutic to those who use this as a coping

mechanism.

Accessibility is a concern that seems to be growing with every generation. Alcohol is

everywhere; in the home, at restaurants, parties and tourist attractions. This makes it socially

acceptable to consume alcohol, in large quantities. Raising the drinking age, increasing the price of

alcoholic beverages, limiting or reducing “happy hours” and placing a restraint on when alcohol would

be available for purchase would help to reduce the exposure of alcohol to children and decrease the

number of alcoholics in society. Teaching children and teens restraint or moderation could also help to

reduce alcohol problems later in life (Emshoff, 2019). It is our belief that if an individual is not exposed

to alcohol until later in life, they may not be as interested in getting into a pattern of drinking as

opposed to someone who has had access to alcohol since their early teens.

Peer pressure is another factor that can lead a person to alcoholism. Approximately 40% of

alcoholics were drinking in excess during their late teen years. Most cases of alcoholism are established

by the age of 30, with it having the highest occurrence between the ages of 18-23 years old (Enoch,

Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Development of Alcoholism , 2007). A teen who goes to

school where the culture is that it is “cool” to drink or it’s easily accessible is more likely to abuse alcohol

rather than a teen who goes to a school where alcohol consumption is not a part of their social climate.

Poor parenting or absentee parents can also be a direct cause of alcoholism. Childhood

mistreatment interacts with the MAOA (monoamine oxidase) gene variant to predict antisocial

behaviour which is often linked to alcoholism (Enoch, Genetic and Environmental Influences on the

Development of Alcoholism , 2007). Parents are role models. Children grow to be an image of their

upbringing. If parents are consuming the alcohol in the home or are becoming violent or aggressive

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile | JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106

 Nature vs Nurture

towards their family, this can cause the other family members to gravitate towards alcohol consumption

to deal with their family dynamic.

While genetics, race, culture, mental illness, family history and other biological factors may

contribute to an individual’s susceptibility to AUD, we believe that alcoholism is directly related to the

subject’s environment and experiences.

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile | JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106

 Nature vs Nurture

Works Cited
Brent Finger, L. K. (2010). Alcoholism, Associated Risk Factors, and Harsh Parenting Amoung Fathers:
Examining the Role of Martial Aggression. Addictive Behaviours Volume 35, Issue 6, 541-548.

Buckner, J. D., Schmidt, N. B., Lang, A. R., Small, J. W., Schlaunch, R. C., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (2008).
Specificity of Social Anxiety Disorder as a RIsk Factor for Alcohol and Cannabis Dependence.
Journal of Psychiatric Research Volume 42, Issue 3, 230-239. Retrieved from ScienceDirect;
Journal o.

Emshoff, A. W. (2019, 02 17). Breaking the Cylce of Additction: Prevention and Intervention with Children
of Alcoholics. Retrieved from Gale Info Trac:
https://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=googlescholar&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7C
A20923647&sid=googleScholar&asid=84d269a5

Enoch, M.-A. (2007, 02 16). Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Development of Alcoholism .
Retrieved from The New York Academy of Sciences:
https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1196/annals.1376.019

Enoch, M.-A. (2011). The Role of Early Life Stress as a Predictor for Alcohol and Drug Dependence.
Psychopharmacology, Volume 214, Issue 1, 17-31.

Grant, B. F., & Dawson, D. A. (1997). Age of Onset of Alcohol Use and its Association with DSM-IV
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: Results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic
Survey. Journal of Substance Abuse Volume 9, 103-110.

Kathleen R. Merikangas, P., James F. Leckman, M., Brigette A. Prusoff, P., & al, a. (1985, 04). Familial
Transmission of Depression and Alcoholism . Retrieved from JAMA Network; JAMA Psychiatry:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/493549

Nordqvist, C. (2018, 05 29). Definition. Retrieved from Medical News Today:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157163.php#definition

Holly Linton, Angela Creagmile | JELENIC, MILAN GNED 1106