Pysch

Alcoholism is a disease in which your body becomes dependent on alcohol (Mayo Clinic, 2010). When you have alcoholism, you lose control over your drinking (Mayo Clinic, 2010). You may not be able to control when you drink, how much you drink, or how long you drink on each occasion (Mayo Clinic, 2010). Alcohol can be used to escape many situations such as anxiety or stress. People may also drink in order to “fit in” in certain social situations. Adolescents that notice this can have either a positive or negative effect on what alcohol can do. The two studies that were conducted and that were analyzed will show what really adolescents think of alcohol use and its effects and if they are consuming alcohol, what are the reasons.

In a study conducted by John E. Donovan, Brooke S. G. Molina, and Thomas M. Kelly on alcohol outcome expectancies as generally a common and socialized view. The researchers of the study are trying to find out if peers, parents or media has anything to do with positive or negative expectancies.

The general question that is being asked in this article is does social environment affect children to have positive or negative alcohol expectancies. Alcohol expectancies refer to beliefs about the effects of consuming alcohol. The researchers are determining whether peers, parents or media have anything to do with how a child feels about the effects of alcohol. For the most part in this research they are studying the parents.

In the article it states that alcohol expectancies also have to do with experiences an individual has had with alcohol. The development of alcohol expectancies in children has shown long before they ever start drinking. In early childhood, children believe that the effects on drinkers are negative but as they get older they become positive. Children determine the effects on alcohol based on what their environment is like. They are more likely to start drinking if they see their parents drinking, or older siblings drinking or...