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Alcoholism chat


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More alcoholism chat - Alcoholics lack self self discipline and self esteem. They also lack rational and logical thought sometimes. Sounds harsh. It is harsh but I think it is true. And the marshmallow test supports this.

Some time ago a scientist/psychologist devised a test in which he placed a marshmallow in front of a child and said that if he/she didn't eat it while he was out of the room for a while he would let the child have a second one. He left the room.

A percentage ate it immediately. A percentage waited and ate it before he came back. Some left it and got a second one. When they grew up who do you think had a higher likelihood of becoming alcoholic? Yes the first group. The third group, the ones who abstained are the people more likely to succeed in our society. They are more rational and think long term and about the consequences of their actions. They are less impulsive. Impulsive behavior leads to problems in this world although it can help in creativity I believe.

For example if an alcoholic to be (i.e. on the road to "crossing the wire" and becoming addicted) could think through the consequences more rationally even on a simplistic level such as this is going to cause a hangover which means pain. I don't want that so I'll stop. It would put the brakes on. It takes a long time to learn to be alcoholic. There is plenty of time for rational thought and adjustment if you are the type in the first group.

We know that are characters are formed through genetic inheritance and nurture (how we are brought up). And I am convinced that the very early years of development plus genetic predispositions followed up by circumstance are the factors in making a person alcoholic. Nothing new in that though.

Bearing in mind the marshmallow test perhaps it might be possible in the future to isolate those people who are at risk of drifting into alcoholism and take proactive steps to prevent it. Alcoholism seems to gradually get into your bones so there is time to prevent it, to arrest the slide to addiction. Why aren't we using that time frame to put the brakes on?

__________________________

Jane is working OK. She is staying sober at the moment. She has the occasional little drink I think (but am I paranoiac - she never ever drinks in front of me so I have to guess). She is working OK and all is stable on that front. Only it won't last. Experience not pessimism tells me that.

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Comments

  1. Anonymous8 November 2008 at 16:14

    I just found other blogs you might be interested in by people like myself, and yourself, who are living with alcoholics. I put some on the bloglist on the left side of this page:
    http://sumpatheia.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous16 November 2008 at 13:13

    I think it is important to e factual and alcoholics do not lack self discipline.
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous18 November 2008 at 05:56

    Alcoholics do not lack self-discipline? I have to completely disagree with that in so many ways. If it is not self-discipline that they do not lack that prevents them from stopping at just one or giving into the temptation when they have been away from it, what is it that they lack?

    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michael Broad LLB, ARPS18 November 2008 at 06:18

    Hi thanks Amy for the comment. What I am saying is that some alcoholics lack self-discipline. Many might have self-discipline. A lack of self discipline is only one factor in becoming an alcoholic. The most important is that alcoholics often have low self esteem and are depressed. This makes life difficult. They are sometimes damaged (we all are but alcoholics perhaps more so) in some way psychologically.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michael Broad LLB, ARPS18 November 2008 at 12:53

    Hi I would like to add to that last comment. Yes, anyone can become an alcoholic. I think you're right. But sometimes a lack of self discipline contributes plus many other factors. Today it is easy to drift into alcoholism. Some jobs are very pressured. There is a high proportion of lawyer and doctor alcoholics for example.

    Freddie

    ReplyDelete

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I'd like to hear the experiences of both alcoholics and the victims of alcoholics, please.

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