Varieties of Psychopathological Experience by Carney Landis

While all of these factors will not operate equally on every level, a combination of one or more will be found at work on each of three levels: (1) factors which make one vulnerable to alcoholism (2) factors which determine the selection of alcoholism as a symptom, as over against all the other types of psychopathological symptoms and (3) factors which cause alcoholism to be self-perpetuating once it has reached a certain point. The following types of causative factors seem to be involved in alcoholism: physiological, psychological, cultural, philosophical, and religious. The late Carney Landis, from the perspective of a research psychologist, wrote: 'If there is any human disorder which can be truly said to be of multiple etiology, it is alcoholism in all its diverse forms.' 1. On the contrary, the research findings indicate forcefully that alcoholism is a complex disease in which a variety of factors play a role. At the same time, a spirit of tentativeness is indicated since tomorrow’s findings may easily render today’s conceptions obsolete.Īt the present stage of research it is impossible to point to any single or simple cause of alcoholism. It behooves us to take advantage of the available knowledge to form a working hypothesis for dealing realistically with the problem. Alcoholism is, at least to a degree, a 'cryptogenic' disease - a disease of which the basic roots or cause are hidden. What are the causes of alcoholism? Nobody knows in any complete or final sense. It is especially so in an area so befogged by misinformation as the one under consideration. Careful examination of the findings of the sciences is important in dealing with any social problem. Bacon, lecturing at the Yale Summer School of Alcohol Studies, 1948Īn acquaintance with the facts concerning the causes of alcoholism is a prerequisite to any effective preventive or therapeutic action. Many of those who attempt to control alcoholism are like those who attempted to control lightning without knowledge of electricity.

Chapter 2: What Are the Causes of Alcoholism?īoth the ethical and the therapeutic approaches to the problem of alcoholism must be based on an understanding of alcohol, drinking, and the physiology and psychology of the human being. Understanding and Counseling the Alcoholicīy Howard J.

Varieties of Psychopathological Experience by Carney Landis