The article, Etiology of Alcoholism Reconsidered, is an insightful article that provides a biophysical analysis of the problem. Alcohol related mishaps and accidents remain the largest concern of society and in response to this more and more sectors of society have been taking steps to understand the nature of the problem. One such approach is the biophysical approach conducted by Vailliant and Milofsky on the Etiological Approach to Alcoholism. It is theorized in the study conducted by Vailliant and Milofsky that there are other factors that must be considered when studying the problem of alcoholism.
According to the authors, there are personality and childhood influences that must be examined in order to arrive at a better understanding of the problem. In the study conducted, Vailliant and Milofsky studied many different factors and collected different types of date including ethnicity, heredity, psychological instability, childhood and adult personality variables, and family background (Vailliant and Milofsky, 1982, p43). The data that was collected from all of this was then used to quantify the variance of each of the different etiological factors.
It was from the data analytic strategy that Vailliant and Milofsky were able to draw the conclusion that whenever there are correlations that exist between alcoholism and certain behavioral patterns or symptoms, it is usually alcoholism that is the cause of such behavior or symptom rather than it being the result (Vailliant and Milofsky, 1982, p483). Alcoholism is, according to the authors, not so much a disorder whose etiological causes are personality and behavior but rather, it is a precedent for such behaviors.
It was also noted from the study that “premorbid antisocial behavior” is a major contributor to the etiology of alcoholism. Another important finding in the article is the fact that while Vailliant and Milofsky greatly downplayed the role of child antisocial behavior, it played a significant role in most of the categories. As with the other etiological factors, it has been shown that there are correlations that have been overlooked or underrepresented in the study conducted by Vailliant and Milofsky.
As such, this has led to the theory of Zucker that in order for there to be an accurate etiological study, there must be a study that is conducted over “developmental time” and inclusive of “different levels of data” since it is only through this process that a proper understanding can be arrived at (Zucker 1986). There are, however, still certain researchers who argue that this study was not significant in that it failed to account for certain factors or relationships such as that of antisocial behavior and personality factors which was thought to be underestimated in the study.
This does not detract, however, that the study process used presented an angle that was quantifiable and perhaps accurate of the etiology of alcoholism.
Works Cited:
Vailliant and Milofsky, (1982) Natural History of Male Alcoholism II. The relationship between different diagnostic dimensions. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Zucker, Robert (1986) Etiology for Alcoholism Reconsidered: The case for the Biophysical Process. Michigan State University. American Psychologist