Risk Factor - Family

Question 1

Outline Family influence as a risk factor (1 point)

Answer 1

• Family is critical for socialisation & development and their influence is likely to be seen in addictive behaviours & attitudes to addictive behaviours

Question 2

Outline Social Learning Theory for Family influence (2 points)

Answer 2

• Suggest we model behaviour on key role models and the most critical role models are in the home i.e. parents and siblings
• SLT suggests we may ‘learn’ to become addicted to behaviours through vicarious reinforcement and role models (higher status & equal status

Question 3

Outline Attitude Formation for Family influence (2 points)

Answer 3

• Family helps shape our expectations about the world, and contribute to our schemas about addictions
• Consciously and / or unconsciously, we perceive certain addictive behaviours as being legitimised and as such, tempting

Question 4

Outline Parental Expectations for Family influence (2 points)

Answer 4

• Permissive parents are over indulgent, give their child too much attention and respond to quick to needs - this lack of discipline & self-control opens up more opportunity for children to fall into patterns for drug use
• Research highlights the effects of permissive parenting on addiction, revealing a link to increases in alcohol & tobacco use during adolescence

Question 5

Strength Outline Goddard’s (1990) study (2 points)

Answer 5

• Completed a longitudinal research to examine factors that may predict youngster’s smoking behaviour
• Found that if parents smoke, the kids are far more likely to themselves

Question 6

Weakness Outline Shields et al’s (1962) study (2 points)

Answer 6

• Adoption Study. Examined the concordance b/w 42 twin pairs that were reared apart & found that 33 pairs were identical in addiction habits
• Shows genetic similarity is a major factor - FAMILY INFLUENCE MAY BE OVERSTATED

Question 7

Strength Outline the Practical Application of the role of Family influence (1 point)

Answer 7

• If families can influence children’s tendencies towards addiction, then intervention strategies can target parents with the aim to emphasise the extent of their influence & persuade them to model positive behaviours