Alcoholism: Genetic or a Learned Behavior Essay examples

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Alcoholism: Genetic or Learned Behavior?

First, before I could answer this question, I had to do a little research. Alcohol addiction is a physical dependence on alcohol which occurs gradually. Over time, drink too much alcohol changed the balance of chemicals in your brain associated with the pleasure aspects of drinking alcohol. Excessive, long-term drinking can affect the balance of these chemicals, causing your body to crave alcohol to restore good feelings or to avoid negative feelings. “Alcoholism was officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1991”. ( http://www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/alcoholism-disease.html ).
What causes alcoholism? Is alcoholism inherited from a parent or is …show more content…
I think because of this he experienced low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and as he grew older, he experienced personal grief with his own sexuality. I think he may have started to drink on a steady basis to block out some of the emotional pain that he felt.
My cousin enjoys watching television and listening to the radio which may also have influence on him. Certain shows and advertisements want to show us how cool we can be if we drink their brand of alcohol. Or, there is the successful businessman drinking a cocktail in a fancy restaurant with a beautiful lady drinking a glass of wine. My cousin also is influenced by the music that he listens to with many of the lyrics talking about drinking and violence. Both examples demonstrate that drinking is socially acceptable.
I think my cousin has become an alcoholic because of both the genes that he inherited from his father and from the influences that he was subjected to as a child and as and adult. Either way, it is a sad situation to watch his continual downward spiral. Works Cited “Alcoholism was officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1991”. http://www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/alcoholism-disease.html
Blum, Kennith “The Alcoholic Gene”
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