Social Modeling (SLT) Can Influence Alcohol

Since the consumption of alcohol is necessary to develop alcoholism, the availability of and attitudes towards alcohol in an individual's environment affect their likelihood of developing the disease.

as a general concept, social learning theory has been applied to the many different fields of social science to explain why certain individuals develop motivation to commit (or abstain from) crime and develop the skills to commit crime through the people they associate with. Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most frequently looked at theories in the criminology field. This theory was introduced by Ronald L. Akers as a reformulation of Edwin H. Sutherland 's (1947) differential association theory of crime meld with principles of behavior psychology (Bradshaw, 2011). Akers retained the concepts of differential association and definitions from Sutherland 's theory, but conceptualized them in more behavioral terms and

• Alcoholism is an addictive disease process characterized by: Craving and compulsions Loss of control Continued use despite adverse consequences

Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most widely recognized theories of criminology because of it’s success in describing deviant and criminal behaviors. SLT explains how individuals learn to behave based on interaction with others, as well as through one’s experiences in their immediate environment (Miller & Morris, 2016). In addition, individual’s deviant behavior is shaped through reinforcement and punishment, imitation and differential reinforcement. Because this theory is so prominent in the criminological field, it has been researched and tested numerous times in order to prove its effects on deviant behavior. (Cochran et al, 2017).

Some factors include social, religious, psychological, genetic characteristics and childhood (B. Sadock, V. Sadock, & Ruiz, 2015). Based on psychological theories, low and high doses of alcohol can have an effect on an individual’s psychological feelings of nervousness which can cause an increase or decrease in tension (B. Sadock, V. Sadock, & Ruiz, 2015). Furthermore, psychodynamic theories demonstrate that most individuals utilize this drug to help them deal with harsh superegos and to decrease unconscious stress levels (B. Sadock, V. Sadock, & Ruiz, 2015). Lastly, behavioral theories demonstrate that the rewarding effects of drinking, attitudes about one’s behavior, and reinforcement after alcohol intake contribute to the decision to continue drink despite problems ((B. Sadock, V. Sadock, & Ruiz, 2015). Based on these ethological theories, individuals with AUD can be exposed to various influences which contribute to the onset of their drinking

Doweiko explains there are several factors that increase an individual’s vulnerability for a substance use disorder (SUD). Lack of parental bonding can have an impact of what the child learns. Environmental factors include poverty, sparse opportunities in life and no chance of going on a vacation to get away from the neighborhood. Not having the means to have a safe purposeful life can lead people to escape reality with drug use. The most important factor is an individual’s life goals. Deciding what they want to do with their futures and whether or not substance use or abuse is something they want in their future goals. If an individual’s goals are not planned then they are vulnerable to substance use or abuse (Doweiko,

Essentially, the conditions in which one lives may be enough to result in turning to alcohol and depending on one’s perception and susceptibility, alcohol abuse may

First, biological predisposition. SR grew up in a family where drinking alcohol was a past time, not only did his uncle drink, but his father was a heavy drinker as well. Addictions are moderately to highly heritable (Bevilacqua, & Goldman, 2009). SR’s childhood expriences and environment also played a part in the development of his alcohol addiction as well. He witnessed his family members drinking, and was often given alcohol at a young age, which more than likely led to the adoption of modeled behaviors. According to the learning model addiction is simply a learned behavior. The importance of environment has been theorized to reflect the important influence of social and familial structure that characterizes development across adolescence (Meyers & Dick, 2010). While his addiction probably didn’t develop during this time it seemed to be the catalyst for his later

It is likely that participants in past studies applied a sexual interaction scripts which assumes that a man is entitled to sex if a woman leads him on (Lovell, 1995). Moreover, alcohol expectancies, which are the cognitive, behavioral and affective expectations of individual's behavior under the effects of alcohol, are shown to moderate the responsibility attributed to drinking perpetrators (Williams, 1996). In other words, when somebody has consumed alcohol, we have a certain expectation of the behavior under the effects of alcohol which in turn should make us assign less responsibility to the perpetrator. This is because we expect the person to have low inhibitions and we attribute these behaviors as situational and one time occurrence. This leads us to give a benefit of doubt to the

One theory that describes are the sociological theories. This tells us that deviant behaviors, such as crime and illegal drug use, are learned within a social context (differential association) in which groups define the behaviors as good. Drugs use and its pleasurable effects are learned from subcultures with which the individual becomes afflicted. Many people are taught to use and abuse. There is a drastic increase in the likelihood of abuse if they grow in a specific social class. This is best explained by the social learning theory which tells us that we learn from what we observe. If we see people committing crimes, abusing drugs they will likely follow suit. Social conditions play an important role in the etiology of addiction. Like the broken windows theory, the will to use or commit crime will be lower because the knowledge and influences will be

Though all the presentations were interesting, the presentation I enjoyed the most was Isabelle’s regarding Russetiden in Norway. The reason for that is because when I was Russ I remember that it felt like a group pressurize sometimes that we had to drink. I enjoyed hanging with friends and going to different arrangements and meet other Russ people. However, I would feel that the social learning theory would be the one that could also be applied for this. It could be applied because this theory is examined drinking behaviors during the transition period from high school to college. According to this theory, human behavior is learned through interaction and observation of others in a social context. Specifically, there is a strong correlation between socio-environmental influences and college drinking behavior. And since I'm from two cultural backgrounds, where in Persian culture we don't have suck alcohol parties when we graduate, I felt that I had to join just to now get excluded. I also felt that I enjoyed learning about the disease, I had no ideas that these two were connected, and I certainly did not think about it when I was young and drank during this celebration. I was russ in 2007, while this occurred in 2011, that the 18 year old boy died from viral meningitis. In this case I agreed with Isabell that the

Every problem has a beginning, where the domino effect starts. In most cases people get started drinking not because they like it, but because it is illegal and it gives them a chance to rebel. The so-called “rebel” becomes bored of drinking alone and eventually seeks “company” when they are drinking. The only catch is that the “rebel” can not be the only one drinking so the “company” has to drink. This is where the problem with peer pressure and teenage drinking begins and the first domino starts the chain reaction. There are two types of peer pressure. There is direct peer pressure where a subject’s peers actually force him into having a drink. There is also indirect peer pressure where the subject enters a setting and his peers are drinking so he decides to have a drink to fit in with the rest of his peers (Articles-Teenage Drinking 2). Surveys show that alcohol abuse is related to teenage activities such as going on dates and going to parties (Teenage Alcohol Misuse 2).

Reciprocal determinism plays an important role in public health issues. The three key factors which are behavior, person, and environment all play a role in whether or not a person drinks. For example, a person starts drinking due to the environment or people they are surrounded by who influence them to drink. According to the textbook, “influences in the social and physical environment, such as peer influence, level of family support, characteristics of the neighborhood, and work and school environment that help or hinder opportunities for health” (Richard Riegelman and Brenda Kirkwood). Also, these people can either help the person or influence the person in a negative way which leads them to start drinking. On the other hand, it could

Social and cultural factors play roles in to establishing drinking patterns and the development of alcoholism. In some cultures, there is conflict between abstaining and accepting the use of alcohol as a way to change moods or to be social, thus making it difficult for some people to develop stable attitudes about and moderate patterns of drinking. Society tends to aid in the development of alcoholism by making alcohol seem glamorous, showing that by drinking, you will become more popular, more glamorous and more worthy of respects from others.

People drink in many ways, for many different reasons. We drink socially, to gain acceptance into a group. We drink alone to ease stress, to cope with our problems, or we “drink because we like the taste or how it makes us feel”#. Often drinking is a learned behavior, starting out as a social drinker; you quickly become psychologically and physically dependent. When someone reaches this stage they are often classified as an alcoholic. To an alcoholic, drinking becomes a compulsion; they cannot stop themselves from having another drink, like a social drinker can. In many cases alcoholics don’t even have to drink continuously in order to be an alcoholic. One the problems of alcohol addiction is that it’s something that doesn’t just effect the individual but it effects, friends and family as well. Spouse abuse, child abuse and dysfunctional family relationships can all be influenced by alcohol abuse.