Etiology of alcoholism reconsidered: The case for a biopsychosocial process.

Argues that the etiology of alcoholism is best understood within the context of a longitudinal–developmental framework that includes physiological, behavioral, and sociocultural variables. It is further argued that G. E. Valliant and E. S. Milofsky's (see record 1982-30620-001) follow-up study on the etiology of alcoholism, although ostensibly set within such a framework, in fact understates the role of personality influences and dismisses childhood effects out of hand. Valliant and Milofsky's data are reviewed, and a different set of conclusions about the roles of childhood influences, personality, and cultural factors in the etiologic process is offered. An alternative integrative review of the existing longitudinal literature is presented that sets these findings in the context of a biopsychosocial process. (90 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)