The Effects of Alcohol on the Marital Interactions of Aggressive and Non-Aggressive Husbands
In today's world of marriage it seems as if everyday there are more and more divorces and separations between couples. What this Psychological study examined was maybe the biggest negative effector of these relationships and that is the mixture of alcohol and problem solving in marital interactions. Alcohol in excessive nature was reported in the violence surveys consistently. Many wives of these husbands that have been battered reported their husbands as either heavy drinkers or problem drinkers. Leonard and Roberts's study showed 40-60% of these woman labeled their husbands as alcoholics. Reports also have shown that husbands that are frequently drunk have had a higher rate of violence reported toward their spouses.
The past experimental studies have shown alcohol consuming by males to cause aggression towards other males, but no other studies have been conducted showing alcohol consumption effect on marital aggression. Thus, Leonard and Roberts study is the first thanks to the conflict-resolution paradigm created by researchers of marital aggression. In this paradigm married couples are recorded on videotape and the research is caterorigized in to forms of aggression shown by the couples. There have been other studies conducted on aggression of husbands on their wives that have shown to be reasonably coherent. These past studies have shown violent husbands tend to insult their wives, and differ with their beliefs, the aggressive men tended to yell and to give very aggressive gestures. A past study had tested figures that were non-alcoholics and were given alcohol and a particular world topic to speak about. The stu...
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...actly supported in the alcohol phase. They had expected that alcohol would show more negative behavior in both the aggressive and non-aggressive couples, but that wasn't the case. Alcohol did show to increase negativity in the aggressive groups, but it didn't change much in the non-aggressive groups. Leonard and Robert's also showed that the placebo was not effective in tricking the husband into believing he was more intoxicated than he really was. The placebo also has not produced a significant increase in aggression or negativity compared to those of the alcohol group. Finally, the study did prove that alcohol does seem to increase the negativity in already aggressive husbands. It wasn't as significant as Leonard and Roberts had initially expected but their study did prove that alcohol could be a significant factor in young marriages and their aggression.
Frey and Schonbeck explain that it is estimated that over 76 million people worldwide are affected by alcohol abuse or dependence. The chance of having an alcoholic in one’s life is very high. Children that grow up in an environment with an alcoholic may increase that child’s chance of becoming an alcoholic themselves. In the United States, the most commonly abused drug among youth is alcohol. Even though the legal drinking age is 21, nearly 20% of all alcohol consumed in the United States is by people under the legal age (83). In fact, when youth start drinking at social events in their teenage years, they are greatly increasing their risk of developing alcohol problems (85). Alcoholism can affect people of all ages. Furthermore, some experts try to differentiate between alcoholics and social drinkers. Typically, they base this off of five categories. Social drinkers do not drink alone. They consume minimal amounts of alcohol during social functions. Situational drinkers may not ever drink unless they are stressed out. These drinkers are more likely to drink by themselves. Problem drinkers can be described as a drinker that alcohol has caused problems in their life. However, they usually respond to advice given by others. Binge drinkers are out of control in their alcohol consumption. They may drink until they pass out or worse. Alcoholic drinkers have found that their lives have become unmanageable and that they are completely powerless over alcohol (84). Alcoholics should be cautious of their surroundings to prevent
Today, one out of every thirteen adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. That means nearly thirteen million Americans have a drinking problem. (www.niaaa.nih.gov) This topic offers a broad range of ideas to be researched within the psychological field. For this particular project, the topic of alcoholism and the psychological effects on people best fit the criteria. Alcoholism is defined as a disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. (www.dictionary.com) Through this project, the most important information regarding personal experiences dealing with alcoholism will be revealed. Not only are statistics, like the facts mentioned before, important when dealing with an issue such as alcoholism, but personal accounts and information are often more powerful and influential evidence. Non-alcoholics should be allowed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for research purposes.
In the article “Children of Alcoholics” produced by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the author explains the negative effect of parental alcoholism on their children’s emotional wellbeing, when he writes, “Children with alcoholic parents are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, antisocial behavior, relationship difficulties, behavioral problems, and/or alcohol abuse. One recent study finds that children of drug-abusing fathers have the worst mental health issues (Children of Alcoholics 1). Walls reflects upon her childhood experiences in which her father would become drunk and not be able to control his behavior, as she writes, “After working on the bottle for a while, Dad turned into an angry-eyed stranger who threw around furniture and threatened to beat up Mom or anyone else who got in his way. When he’d had his fill of cussing and hollering and smashing things up, he’d collapse” (Walls 23). The Walls children, who frequently encounter their father’s abusive behavior, are affected mentally in the same way that national studies have shown. Jeanette Walls describes how, after drinking, her father’s behavior becomes cruel and intolerable through his use of profanity, threats, and angry, even violent, actions. In a conventional family, a parent has the responsibility of being a role model to influence their children in a positive way as they develop. Unfortunately, in the Walls family and other families with alcoholic parents, children are often subject to abuse and violence, which places them at risk, not only physically, but mentally. Rex’s irrational behavior when he is drunk is detrimental to the children’s upbringing, causing them to lose trust in their parents, have significantly lower self-esteem and confidence, and feel insecure. Rex’s behavior contributes to Jeanette’s
One in five adults can identify with growing up with an alcoholic relative and Twenty-eight million Americans have one parent abusing or dependent on alcoholic (Walker, & Lee, 1998). There are devastating and ubiquitous effects of alcoholism, which vary from psychological, social, or biological problems for families. Counselor’s treating this problem all agree that the relationships within a family, especially between a parent and a child is one of the most influential within a system, but what are the effects on the family when a parent is an alcoholic? Contemporary research has found there is a higher prevalence of problems in the family when alcohol is the organizing principle. In addition, there is copious research on the roles of individuals within the family becoming defined into specific categories, and evidently, the roles may become reversed between the parent and the child. This topic of functional roles in alcoholic families will be analyzed and investigated further. Family therapy has had substantial results in the treatment of an alcoholic parent. These results will be discussed more along, with the literature examining the existing research related, to specific interventions and treatments in family therapy with an alcoholic parent. Before research on the treatment is illuminated on distinctive therapies, it is crucial for counselors facilitating family therapy to comprehend the literature on the presenting problems commonly, associated with alcoholic parents and the effects this population has on their families. Furthermore, the adverse outcomes an alcoholic parent has on their children and spouses has been researched and reviewed.
Bushman, B. J., & Cooper, H. M. (1990). Effects of alcohol on human aggression: an intergrative research review. Psychological Bulletin, 107(3), 341-354.
The violence is having an actual impact on John’s biomedical as by him hitting Anne this could lead him to further injury his back. John is consuming excessive amounts of alcohol continuously which leads to the violence occurring. It is not only physical injuries from hitting Anne, but also alcohol has many health risks associated with it including liver disease, brain damage, heart disease, high blood pressure and increases John’s risk of many cancers (guidelines for alcohol consumption 2013). Additionally, John is also being effected psychologically as chronic pain and stress are closing related. Chronic pain can cause feelings such as anger, hopelessness, sadness and anxiety, this potentially could be leading John to use alcohol as a relaxant which overall is causing him to lash out towards Anne (Bruns & Kerns 2013) John goes to the pub frequently to socialise and drink, this may be having potential effects causing John to lash out towards Anne. This is because ‘research shows that heavy drinking and intoxication are associated with physical aggression’ (Morgan & Chadwick 2009). Overall, there are numerous actual and potential impacts to John’s biopsychosocial model as a result of domestic
Xue, Y., Zimmerman, M. A., & Cunningham, R. (2009). Relationship be- tween alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths from adolescence to emerging adulthood: A longitudinal study. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 2041–2048.
throughout her childhood with an alcoholic father and a selfish mother who cared more about her art and happiness than that of her children’s. Alcohol misuse can affect all aspects of family functioning: social life, finances, good communication, relationships between family members, parenting capability, employment and health issues , It also has a strong correlation with conflicts, disputes and domestic violence which can leave a damaging effect on children. Alcohol misuse often times change the roles played by family member...
emphasized a lack of restraint. Popular psychology identified “the positive aspects of anger” and encouraged couples to communicate their desires to one another.
The ingestion of alcoholic beverages for their enjoyable effects is a custom which has been around for thousands of years, and alcohol continues to be a popular drug because of its short-term effects (Coleman, Butcher & Carson, 1984). An enormous amount of damage can be attributed directly to alcohol abuse as a result of lost jobs, accidents caused by drunk drivers, and so forth (Maltzman, 2000). Alcohol also compounds other problems--an estimated 25% to 40% of hospital patients have problems caused by, or recovery delayed by alcohol abuse (Maltzman, 2000). Clinical psychologists spend about one-fourth of their time dealing with people who are suffering in part from alcohol or other substance problems (Vaillant, 1995). Although alcohol problems have been around for so long, it is only recently that these problems have begun to be associated with medical or psychological difficulties.
This research paper will help enable sociologists to determine what the ongoing effects have on an alcoholic and further provides information on the long-term effects that society has to deal with. The significance of alcoholism and sociology is the ability of sociologists to research and discover how human behaviour is affected on many aspects of its effects on a person. An alcoholic can be described as someone who is addicted to drinking alcoholic beverages in excess. What starts out as social drinking can lead to excessive drinking and the many problems associated with alcohol abuse and i...
Simpson, L.E., Doss, D.B., Wheeler, J., Christensen, A. (2007). Relationship violence among couples seeking therapy: common couple violence or battering. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. Vol. 33, pg 270. Proquest Direct database. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
Pan, H. S., Neidig, P. H., & O'Leary, K. D. (1994). Predicting mild and severe husband-to-wife physical aggression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62(5), 975-981. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.62.5.975
In 1974, a study was done which compared male and female domestic violence. In that study, it was found that 47% of husbands had used physical violence on their wives, and 33% of wives had used violence on their husbands (Gelles 1974). Half of the respondents in this study were selected from either cases of domestic violence reported to the police, or those identified by the social service agency.
...eads to violence and sexual aggression in men if the drinking becomes out of control. In First Dance, Roy and his group of mates hang out outside the local surf club, drinking beer in a controlled environment until Chrissie and Toni show up, too drunk to control themselves. This causes the men to take advantage Toni and as a consequence, rape and kill her as a result of sexual aggression. This action is reflects alcoholism and sexual aggression in Australian adolescent men.