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Crossing the Threshold: Factors in Self‐identification as an Alcoholic *
Author(s) -
Skinner Harvey A.,
Glaser Frederick B.,
Annis Helen M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1982.tb03249.x
Subject(s) - psychology , abstinence , self identification , psychopathology , clinical psychology , alcohol consumption , psychiatry , personality , alcohol dependence , alcohol , alcohol abuse , alcoholics anonymous , developmental psychology , social psychology , gender studies , biochemistry , chemistry , sociology
Summary This study compared individuals who identified themselves as ‘alcoholic’ versus ‘non‐alcoholic’ in a clinical sample (N=225) referred for alcohol related problems. The self‐identified alcoholics were more likely to have attended Alcoholics Anonymous and to agree with the A.A. philosophy that abstinence is necessary for improvement. Furthermore, the alcoholics reported a wider range of problems related to alcohol, and both their current and life‐time alcohol consumption were greater than the non‐alcoholics. Nevertheless, the differences would appear to be of degree rather than differences of kind. As the level of alcohol abuse increased beyond a certain threshold there was an increased probability that individuals would consider themselves alcoholic. On the other hand, the self–identified alcoholics and non‐alcoholics were not significantly different with respect to age, sex, intellectual abilities, personality characteristics and measures of psychopathology. This study calls into question the meaningfulness and practical utility of the distinction between ‘alcoholic’ and ‘non‐alcoholic’ with individuals having alcohol related problems.