The Impact of Alcohol on Family Violence: A Social Psychology View

This essay explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and family violence through the lens of social psychology. It highlights the detrimental effects of alcohol on individuals and families, particularly concerning domestic abuse. The essay references statistics indicating the prevalence of domestic violence and the role of alcohol in these incidents. It discusses Bandura's social learning theory as a potential explanation for the link between alcohol and violence, suggesting that children who witness parental addiction and violence are more likely to develop similar behaviors. However, the essay also acknowledges that domestic violence stems from multiple factors, including jealousy, low self-worth, psychological disorders, and societal norms. It concludes that while alcohol abuse increases the likelihood of family violence by impairing cognitive function and altering brain chemistry, education and sensitization are crucial in preventing future generations from perpetuating this cycle.

Running head: Social Psychology
Social Psychology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Alcohol and family violence are of particular concern because it has a detrimental effect
on the physical and mental state of a person. In most instances, the perpetrators know the
victims, for instance the sufferer might be a spouse or child. Alcohol is the chief factor especially
where the sufferer is the partner of the person who is the abuser. However, even though
consumption of alcohol and violence is related, the reason behind why the aggression takes place
is still in its formative stage.
According to statistics in the year 2017, on an average, ten women a month were
subjected to domestic violence. This was just the reported cases. Many more women are
subjected to domestic violence but they choose to stay on with their partners who have abused
them. They do not report it to the authorities concerned and continue to suffer in silence. One
ought to treat complaints with the utmost care and by a woman. Domestic violence has
unfortunately become a vicious cycle because the daughters of these women also become victims
of domestic violence. This is impeding the growth and development of the island.
Bandura (1973) opines that social learning theory explains the relation between alcohol
and family violence for a plethora of reasons. According to the social learning theory, one learns
by observing. Children whose parents have a history of addiction are more likelier to develop
addiction to alcohol which can result to violent behaviour.
Bandura (1973) opines that even though the theory of social learning explains a lot about
behaviours that are complex in nature, it does not explain adequately why people develop such
behaviours. Domestic violence happens due to a plethora of reasons. This includes jealousy and a
low self-worth. The perpetrators of abuse may feel the need to be in charge of their spouse due
to a low self-worth that arises from a sense of inferiority due to low educational levels and

2SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
socioeconomic background. There are some people who subscribe to the orthodox view that
women ought to be controlled by men and that they are inferior to men. Others perpetrating
violence may suffer from a psychological disorder or personality disorder. Still others may have
witnessed domestic violence as a child and has therefore grown up to accept this kind of
behaviour as the norm.
The control of a spouse could take the shape of abuse that is physical, mental and sexual
in nature. Violent behaviour is often the result of a combination of individual and situational
factors. Some abusers acknowledge to being abused as a child. This latent anger manifests itself
later in life in the treatment of one’s spouse.
Human beings possess cognitive control towards one’s behaviour and not every individual who
have gone through some forms of violence, as a child will replicate the same behaviour as an
adult.
In conclusion, it can be said that violence in a family increase when there is an alcohol
abuse. Alcohol reduces the ability of a person to think effectively, leads to chemical changes in
the brain, which leads to a person being dangerous and confrontational in nature, and
misinterpret the behaviour of a person. Children learn from their parents and it is on the onus of
the parents to educate and sensitize children so that they grow up to be honest, compassionate,
respectful and kind individuals.

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