Social Learning Theory Of Alcoholism

Any behavior, whether it be speaking, walking or eating is learned through the three key mechanisms of modeling (watching others), reinforcement (any source of reward) and association (being linked with internal factors such as mood or external factors in our environment). (Ogden, 2017, p. 29) with alcoholism is no different. Even though most people will never develop an alcohol problem, alcoholism is a disease characterized by the habitual intake of alcohol. The definition of alcoholism is chronic alcohol use to the degree that it interferes with physical or mental health, or with normal social or work behavior. (Tracy, 2016 ) And Alcoholic as Nordqvist (2017) stats is a term used to describe someone who suffers from alcoholism - they often

(Cooper & Russell, 1988). Research has been conducted throughout the years supporting the idea that alcoholism is based on both cognitive and environmental factors (Peele, 1984). The social learning theory supports the idea that alcoholism is a result of both cognitive thinking and the influence environmental factors, Studies have shown that the risk of alcoholism is higher in people that have low self-control or self-regulation. People that are self-regulated are able to recognize when a behavior is destructive and can change either their behavior or the environment supporting the behavior (Patock-Peckham et al.,

29) Alcoholics can change their behavior watching and focusing on behaviors they want to copy, doesn't matter who, could be family, friends, etc. wherefore if they want to change behavior, it is better to get surrounded by people "example" that they can be focused and copy, this is called modelling. Also, a reinforcement or reward could help, it is positive and make an alcoholic individual wants to repeat the positive action, as to get a reward, these rewards can be simple as a smile, but this positive reinforcement is far more effective than criticism (Ogden, 2017 p. 30)

Make new associations is another form of change behavior that the learning theory talks about. To change behaviors an alcoholic need to make new associations and these associations will become more positive than the older, the last but important one is the Changing cognitions that talks about making "Socratic questions" therefore if an alcoholic gives a bad reason for intake alcohol, you find a good point, example, if alcoholic individuals say that they drink because no one likes them, you can find people that like them and show the evidence for