Alcoholism: Toward Understanding Genetic and Social Factors

This study uses prospective data to assess the interaction of environmental and genetic contributions to alcoholism. Families of men whose genetic loading included fathers who were alcoholics were compared with men whose fathers were not alcoholics. Alcoholism among the former appeared to be promoted by mothers who held the alcoholic fathers in high esteem. The analyses suggested that genetic loading together with covert acceptance of alcoholism increases risk, as does absence of maternal control.