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Alcoholism and Family Interaction

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 7))

Abstract

This chapter reviews the family interaction literature concerned with families of alcoholics. The development of this area is traced from early reports that focused on individual family members to more recent approaches concerned with the family as an interacting unit. Theories that suggest that family processes reinforce patterns of abusive drinking are examined in light of existing empirical evidence. The interpretation of findings is limited by an insufficient number of studies, a lack of replication, and a lack of systematic programs of research. Recently, more rigorously controlled experiments have demonstrated that the interactions of families of alcoholics can be differentiated from those of nondistressed and other distressed families. Suggested future directions include exploration of family interactions with respect to female alcoholics and offspring outcome.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child Development and Family Relations, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    Theodore Jacob

  2. Western Psychiatric Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, USA

    Ruth Ann Seilhamer

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  1. Theodore Jacob
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  2. Ruth Ann Seilhamer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Jacob, T., Seilhamer, R.A. (1989). Alcoholism and Family Interaction. In: Galanter, M. (eds) Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1678-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1678-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1680-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1678-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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