Please dont just copy from internet and also try to include references. Twin and
ID: 3491448 • Letter: P
Question
Please dont just copy from internet and also try to include references.
Twin and Adoption Studies
Ultimately, if heredity is a factor, there must be some basic biological differences between those who are prone to develop alcohol dependence and those who are not. But the initial task of researchers was simply to establish the extent to which alcohol dependence does or does not run in families.
Cultural Differences
Statistically, the odds of becoming alcohol dependent have in the past varied significantly from country to country. This is not a matter of genetic differences. The genetic differences within racial and ethnic groups are greater than the differences between groups. Alcohol consumption varies widely from country to country.
Discuss the studies and research of Donald Goodwin, a clinician researcher who conducted some of the important initial work on the topic of alcoholism and the role of genetics.
Compare the research of Goodwin to current research and the biological differences between those who are prone to develop alcohol dependence and those who are not.
Assess the extent to which alcohol dependence does or does not run in families.
Assess the relationship of alcoholism to gender, racial/ethnic and religion.
Explanation / Answer
Discuss the studies and research of Donald Goodwin, a clinician researcher who conducted some of the important initial work on the topic of alcoholism and the role of genetics.
Donold Goodwin have extensively studied the topic of alcoholism especially with respect to its hereditary causes.
He has primarily studied the problem of alcoholism using adoption studies in which basically a sample of individuals is identified who had been adopted in early childhood and thus raised by adoptee parents. In one of the sample individuals, one or both parents had been diagnosed for alcoholism. He compared this sample with a matched control group individuals except the fact that none of their biological parent had been diagnosed with alcoholism. He found that the incidence of alcoholism in index group (sample having at least one of biological parent suffering from alcoholism) was significantly as compared to the matched control group. Goodwin had conducted many such studies with different combination of research variables (e.g. comparing samples of adoptive parents diagnosed with alcoholism but not the biological parents), research designs and samples (e.g. comparing samples of adopted son with biological son of same parents, diagnosed with alcoholism. He also targeted the same problem with help of a different method called twin studies in which identical twins who are separated apart for reasons of adoption or other reason and thus are raised in different environments. The samples of twins of alcoholic parents raised in different families (or environments) are compared. The overall findings of Donold Goodwin provides support to the hypothesis that the hereditary factors have a strong causal impact on the development of alcoholism.
Referrences -
Goodwin, D. W., Schulsinger, F., Hermansen, L., Guze, S. B., & Winokur, G. (1973). Alcohol problems in adoptees raised apart from alcoholic biological parents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 28(2), 238-243.
Goodwin, D. W., Schulsinger, F., Møller, N., Hermansen, L., Winokur, G., & Guze, S. B. (1974). Drinking problems in adopted and nonadopted sons of alcoholics. Archives of general psychiatry, 31(2), 164-169.
Goodwin, D. W. (1985). Alcoholism and genetics: The sins of the fathers. Archives of general psychiatry, 42(2), 171-174.
Schuckit, M. A., Goodwin, D. A., & Winokur, G. (1972). A study of alcoholism in half siblings. American Journal of Psychiatry, 128(9), 1132-1136.
Goodwin, D. W., Schulsinger, F., Hermansen, L., Guze, S. B., & Winokur, G. (1973). Alcohol problems in adoptees raised apart from alcoholic biological parents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 28(2), 238-243.
Goodwin, D. W., Schulsinger, F., Møller, N., Hermansen, L., Winokur, G., & Guze, S. B. (1974). Drinking problems in adopted and nonadopted sons of alcoholics. Archives of general psychiatry, 31(2), 164-169.
Goodwin, D. W. (1985). Alcoholism and genetics: The sins of the fathers. Archives of general psychiatry, 42(2), 171-174.
Schuckit, M. A., Goodwin, D. A., & Winokur, G. (1972). A study of alcoholism in half siblings. American Journal of Psychiatry, 128(9), 1132-1136.