Alcoholism Vision in the 20th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Alcoholism Vision in the 20th Century - Essay Example It can be judged it from the definitions like: â€Å"alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way you act† (Identifying alcoholism, 2003)   Keller called alcoholism a disease because of the disablement represented in behavioral manifestations. The same concept is offered by American Psychiatric Association which argued that a mental disorder is characterized by present distress, disability, or a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, or an important loss of freedom. (Mann, Hermann & Heinz, 1999)   In effect, deviant drinking became medicalized or cast in the perspective of a disease model. Scientists and physicians regarded the disease of alcoholism as congenital, progressive, developmental, and, while incurable, capable of treatment. (Lectures)   Since the dawn of 19th-century alcohol has become a ‘social problem’ in the USA. During the colonial era, drunkenness was common with per capita alcohol consumption being 4 times higher than at present. That’s why alcoholism has attracted much public attention and interest of the researchers.   The modern concept of alcoholism includes the psychosocial and neurobiological foundations and consequences of alcoholism. Neurobiological research explains addictive behavior by the dispositional factor of monoaminergic dysfunction, neuroadaptation, and sensitization.