Abnormal Psychology-Substance Abuse Related Disorders

To describe the human mind as mysterious could quite possibly be the understatement of all time; for all of the advances in the study of psychological disorders, and a greater understanding of the workings of the human psyche, there are still some areas that are for the most part unexplained. One of these is the area of substance abuse, or more precisely, what drives the individual to pursue a life of using these substances. Whatever the circumstances that lead to the misuse of substances, however, there are definite psychological disorders that are related to substances. This paper will present and discuss some of the more prevalent substance related disorders in an effort to shed some light on this fascinating aspect of abnormal psychology.

Origins of Substance Related Disorders

Before delving into the more intricate details of this topic, one should look into the origins of substance related disorders as they specifically relate to abnormal psychology, for there is evidence to suggest that the two are indeed interrelated. In the present day, it is tempting to simply dismiss the pandemic of substance related disorders as an escape from the brutal reality of a world that is filled with violence, uncertainty, poverty and the like. However, more research suggests some other possibilities, as children who are typically isolated from the stresses of the "real world" are turning to substance abuse in alarming numbers (Sunday Mercury, 2006) suggesting that substance related disorders may be more of a matter of psychology than anything else, leading back to the childhood of the individuals afflicted. This childhood beginning of the disorders that are substance-based can in fact manifest itself in several ways. Evidence suggests that the situation in the home, such as the absence of a nurturing environment or the presence of abuse or violence in the home can damage the mind during the years when personality, beliefs and coping mechanisms are formed in the all too impressionable human mind (Werkle & Wall, 2002). Once the human mind is cultivated into the use of negativity and even violence to deal with situation and interact with others, there are abnormalities already beginning to proliferate. Therefore, the individual may become an abuser of substances at an early age to numb them to the unfavorable outlook that has come to typify their everyday life and human interactions.

Conversely to environmental factors early in life contributing to one's disposition toward substance related situations, there is also the possibility of the substance use/abuse turning an otherwise normal individual into someone confronted with abnormal psychological pathology. Evidence suggests that in the individual that exhibits no abnormal psychology, occurrences of substance disorders erupt in many cases due to demographic situations; for example, the individual who is economically disadvantaged, a member of an ethnic group that is exposed to a high level of disdain in society, everyday stress, and the like could push one into substance disorders. Perhaps the most accurate way to categorize these factors are flaws in one's coping skills (Tapert, et al, 2004), which is to say that the individual may feel that they are overwhelmed by circumstances from which a realistic means of escape is impossible in the conventional sense; therefore, the option of substances becomes something that seems viable. When this cycle of behavior continues over a sustained period of time, substance related disorders emerge, which ironically enough could lead to abnormal psychology over a period of time, substantiated by cases whereby substance disorders over the long term do in fact deteriorate one's personality, thought processes, emotions, motor skills and other key psychological criteria (Tapert, et al, 2004).

The dynamic of substance related disorders, while widely brought about and aggravated by outside influences and experiences, can also, in some situations, merely be a matter of a weak will in the individual, which will now be further analyzed.

Willful Determinism in Substance Related Disorders

Indeed, the concept of human will and the natural yearning of the individual are at least to some extent psychologically influenced. Resisting the temptation to merely say that the will of the individual is "just the way someone is", and that it is not indeed a facet of abnormal psychology, would be an error in comprehending exactly how closely psychology and the will of the individual are associated.

The relationship between the will of the individual and psychology is not some sort of a new theory; in fact, this assertion goes all the way back to the early ideologies of Freud and his assertions on the nature of abnormal psychology. According to one prominent source, will and psychology were identified as being related by Freud as such:

"Freud insisted that human behavior is driven by biological instincts of which we are generally unaware, and that might not be controllable even if we were aware of them. On the other hand, Freud's psychoanalysis, and most other "talk" therapies influenced by it, are based on the premise that making the unconscious conscious offers some purchase on possibilities of control and change" (Wright, et al, 2003, p. 78). In other words, what one believes to be free will is not free at all, and actually is guided by the mind on autopilot, as opposed to one doing what they wish purely on a whim. This also links back to the earlier assertion that early developmental factors shape one's disposition toward substance related disorders.

While free will may be more involuntary than anything else, this is not an absolute. More precisely, there are societal factors that likewise influence substance related disorders.

Societal Factors that Influence Substance Related Disorders

In addition to the family life of the individual, the society in which they live day to day can influence the onset of substance related disorders from many viewpoints. When a society finds itself having to contend with behavior that it deems undesirable, for instance, then those who are conducting themselves in that way have placed upon them added pressures that psychologically lead to feelings of inadequacy, a sense of detachment from the greater portion of society, anxiety and depression. In turn, these psychological abnormalities have the kind of negative effects on an individual that may lead to substance issues (Chen, et al, 2006).

Looking at the dark underside of a society, which is to say that subculture of society that finds substance usage and the resulting difficulties as routine or even acceptable to a certain extent, there exists a fertile ground in which the seeds of abnormality thrive, as in the case of the urban society, whose music, values, and behavior all reinforce the types of behavior that would undoubtedly be seen as unacceptable by those in more civilized settings. In this situation, the members of this subculture, psychological reactions much like those in unsettled households would be routine.

The decadent behaviors in subcultures, and the unbridled pursuit of pleasure without consequence on the part of the individual can in fact bring about psychological disorders later in life, such as depression and anxiety; these specifically have been seen in situations of reckless promiscuity which has a tendency to reduce the self esteem and confidence to levels that invite psychological flaws (Washington Times, 2005).

Interpersonal Dynamics

Moving forward from the experiences of childhood, as the individual moves into an independent adult state, the relationships that one forms as an adult have measurable impact on one's psyche and their proclivity toward substance related disorders. Much like the child is affected by their environment and the pressure of peers into adopting psychological traits and the resulting behaviors, the adult is in much the same situation. If one is in fulfilling relationships, such as those that are loving, non-stressful and rewarding, and those relationships are not ones fraught with unfavorable behavior such as substance abuse, the individual stands a much better chance of surviving the interpersonal dynamic without dangerous psychological consequences. On the other hand, if the individual is in interpersonal situations that lead to substance episodes and the related psychological fallout, there is a much greater chance that the substance issues will deteriorate into outright disorders of an abnormal psychological nature (Hollander, et al, 2006).

Among the more pronounced psychological abnormalities that emerge due to substance disorders, whether due to a deviation of the personality or the realization of what one's personality is destined to become, is the avocation and in some cases exhibition of violent behavior.

Substance Disorders and Violence

One psychological phenomenon linked in many situations to substance disorders is violence. More specifically, when substance issues are present, the resulting psychological damage often distorts one's reasoning abilities to the point where interactions with others are defined by aggression rather than the more logical process of valid human relationships (Werkle & Wall, 2002). For the violent individual, control is exerted over others and conflicts are resolved through aggression and acting out against others, which is indicative of psychological shortcomings that should be addressed by therapy and other means.

Conclusion
The combined research that has gone into the preparation of this paper has led to some definite conclusions about abnormal psychology, substance disorders, and the relationship between the two. Beginning in childhood, and continuing through the choices that adults think they are voluntarily making, psychology plays a major role in whether or not substance issues emerge. While the environment of the developing individual contributes to one's psyche and the resulting behaviors, it has been seen that factors beyond our control affect us. In light of all of these associations, and for all of the insight that they provide, one thing is still quite clear- the complexity of psychology still places some things beyond explanation.
References

Caught with Drugs. Aged under 11; Shock Figures Reveal Substance Abuse in Primary Schools. (2006, April 9). Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England), p. 8.
Chen, M., Miller, B. A., Grube, J. W., & Waiters, E. D. (2006). Music, Substance Use and Aggression. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67(3), 373+.
Depression: A New Sexually Transmitted Disease. (2005, December 8). The Washington Times, p. A21.
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