Developmental Factors of Substance Misuse and Violence

1
Developmental Factors of Substance Misuse and
Violence

• Theodore M. Godlaski
• College of Social Work
• University of Kentucky

2
Searching for a Theoretical Framework

• The question here is Could there be something
  fundamental in the developmental process of
  individuals that might make them prone to
  substance misuse and violence?
• The issue goes below the level of personality but
  above genetically determined temperament (traits).

3
Searching for a Theoretical Framework

• One approach is to develop a phenotypic model.
• A phenotype is the sum of the visible properties
  of an organism that are produced by the
  interaction of the genotype and the environment.
• It is the product of the interaction between
  specific traits (temperament) and the
  environment.
• Tarter, R Vanyukov, M. (1998). Alcoholism a
  developmental disorder. In Marlatt, G.A.,
  VandenBos, G. (eds.) Addictive Behaviors.
  Washington, DC. American Psychological
  Association. pp. 43-67.

4
A Phenotypic Model

• The following traits have been identified as
  relating to eventual substance misuse
• High activity level
• High emotional reactivity
• Low sociability
• Low attention span persistence
• Low soothability.
• It is not too great a stretch to see that these
  traits may also relate to increased risk for
  violence.

5
A Phenotypic Model

• These traits interact with the environment, over
  time, to create the behavioral phenotype.
• The quality of interaction is determined by the
  conjoint characteristics of the individual and
  the social environment.
• What results is a phenotype that describes an
  individual prone to substance misuse and/or
  violence.

6
Antisocial personality traits
Conduct disorder
Environmental exploration
Activity level
aggresivity
High trait
Liability threshold
2sd
1sd
x
age
1sd
Liability threshold
2sd
Low trait
Low maternal stimulation
Low parental supervision
Abusive punishment
Deviant peers

• Tarter, R Vanyukov, M. (1998). pp. 43-67.

7
A Phenotypic Model

• The trait/environment interaction can be very
  complex when we try to conceptualize an
  individual with several traits.
• Some attention has been directed to the
  difficult temperament.
• Negative mood social withdrawal high rigidity
  high behavioral activity level dysrhythmicity in
  eating, sleep and daily activity and low task
  orientation.

8
A Phenotypic Model

• Thus, various traits interact with any number of
  environmental factors producing increased
  potential for substance misuse and aggression.
• The implications
• The pathways linking temperament to substance
  misuse and violence are variable
• The breath of intermediary outcomes produce a
  population of limitless heterogeneity.

9
Another Approach

• Another way to organize understanding of
  developmental factors as they affect eventual
  substance misuse and violence is Attachment
  Theory.
• Attachment Theory is an ethological approach that
  maintains that our ability to forms attachment to
  a primary caregiver in early development
  influences our later intra and inter personal
  behavior.

10
Model of self (dependence)
Positive (low)
Negative (high)
Secure
Preoccupied
Positive (low)
Model of other (avoidance)
Dismissing
Fearful
Negative (high)
Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy An
attachment perspective. Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships, 7, 147-178.
11
Attachment Theory

• Attachment can be secure or insecure
• Insecure attachment can be anxious/ambivalent
  (preoccupied or fearful) or avoidant
  (dismissing).
• The insecure forms of attachment have been
  identified with increased likelihood of substance
  misuse and violence.

12
Attachment Theory

• Unfortunately, there has been no study to date
  that examines both substance misuse and violence
  in relations to attachment style.
• Interpersonal violence by individuals who have
  insecure attachment is most likely if their
  partners are somewhat avoidant in their
  attachment style.

13
Attachment Theory

• It would seem that, at present, Attachment Theory
  offers the best perspective for understanding the
  developmental factors that contribute to both
  substance misuse and violence.
• It also allows for an understanding of the link
  between childhood victimization and adult
  perpetration and/or substance misuse.

14
Social Learning Theory

• Theodore M. Godlaski
• College of Social Work
• University of Kentucky

15
SLT

• Social Learning Theory has been widely applied to
  understanding substance misuse.
• It use in understanding the origins of violence
  is more recent.
• There is only limited work that has been done
  using SLT to understand the relationship between
  substance misuse and violence.

16
Basic Principles

• Humans are active rather than passive agents.
• Predisposing factors may direct the trajectory of
  social learning, but its ultimate outcome is the
  result of an idiosyncratic process.
• Human behavior is adaptive, flexible, and
  situation specific.

17
Basic Principles

• Behavior is volitional and goal directed, with
  outcome and efficacy expectancies figuring
  largely.
• Maladaptive behaviors are coping strategies
  rather than pathologies.
• All behavior is subject to the same principles of
  learning and reflects an interplay between
  personal, environmental, and behavioral factors.

18
Basic Notions

• Human being are very good at learning.
• We learn from what we observe
• We learn from what other tell us
• We learn not only behaviors but expectations
  about behaviors.
• Our families of origin are primary places of
  behavioral learning.
• We learn most from those with whom we identify.

19
Basic Notions

• Most SLT models are multivariate
• They are generally background-situational models.
• There are factors that form a general background.
• Exposure to parental substance misuse/violence.
• Acceptance of substance use/violence as a
  solution to specific relational conflicts.
• Past history of substance misuse.violence to
  resolve conflict.
• There are factors that are situational variables
• Increased stress
• Expectation that substance use/violence will
  relieve stress.
• Expectations that substance use/violence will
  result in a satisfactory outcome.

20
SLT and Substance Misuse

• Most applications of SLT focus on substance use
  as a coping behavior.
• This is accompanied by a deficit in normal social
  skills.
• The deficit creates increased anxiety around
  situations requiring that skill.
• There is also a learned outcome expectancy that
  substance use will relieve the discomfort.

21
SLT and Substance Misuse

• If the outcome expectancy is met than the
  learning is strongly reinforced.
• This may cause the substance use to continue even
  when it no longer adequately meets the expected
  outcome.
• A strong validation for this view comes from the
  successful use of Social Skills Training in
  substance misuse treatment.

22
SLT and Violence

• This area is not nearly as well studied.
• It is not unreasonable to assume that violence,
  like substance use, may provide a means of coping
  with specific kinds of distress.
• A social skills deficit, similar to that found
  with substance use, may also be at work.

23
SLT and Violence

• Outcome expectancies for the use of violence may
  be learned in the family of origin.
• This may be the case specifically when the
  learner and the role model are the same gender
  and have close identification.
• There is some empirical evidence that this may be
  the case.

24
SLT, Substance Misuse, and Violence

• It may be that the two behaviors are learned
  separately.
• It may be that the substance use provides a
  rationale for violence.
• It may be that the two interact within the
  environment in a reciprocal and mutually
  reinforcing way.