Theoretical models
On descriptive research carried out by the US. Department for Health & Human services, most adolescents engage (19 years) indulge in drugs and alcohol for a number of cognitive reasons. The brain develops well when persons are around twenty years and at this time it establishes fundamental communication connections. This long development period makes the young adult seek adventure in a dangerous situation and act without putting into consideration the consequences. Most 19 years’ old who drink and indulge in drugs have a positive expectation towards them since their childhood. They view them as pleasurable and hence are inclined into taking them. Some also drink because they have a high tolerance rate to alcohol and drugs and can therefore take them in large amounts without feeling initial symptoms such as drowsiness, absence of coordination, and withdrawal effects for a while. The study also identified that children who are aggressive and hyperactive (conduct problems). Their rebelliousness makes them unable to avoid harmful situations and hence end up indulging in drinking and drugs.
In behavior genetics, adolescents also drink as a result of physiological and behavioral genetic factors. For instance, a child in an alcoholic and drug user’s family is likely to have alcohol and drugs problems. Research also indicates that children whose parents are alcoholics are 4-10 times likelier to turn out as alcoholics than those without. Research also shows that children who have alcoholic parents differ in their brain system in that they have a differing feature in one of their brainwave patterns known as the P300 response acting as a sign of alcoholism risk. The brainwave differences are present long before they indulge in drink and drugs. Other studies show that the inherited brain wave activity is also present in persons with certain conducts such as antisocial personality disorder, degraded impulse control, and sensation seeking. Research also proves that adolescents who tend to be drug takers or alcohol drinkers have a genetic makeup that constitutes chromosomes that usually correlate with alcoholism risk.
However, contrary to the certainty that the cognitive theory provides on how 19-year-olds indulge in alcohol and drugs, the genetic behavior theory offers no certainty. For example, researchers have not identified any particular gene that interacts with one’s environment to cause alcohol dependency, especially among 19-year-olds.
Research hypothesis: Descriptive research
- Purpose.
- The descriptive research will be aimed at identifying behaviors that drive 19-year-old adolescents and how the behaviors are interconnected.
- Advantages.
- The subjects will be observed in their natural environments and hence there will be no demand characteristics.
- Disadvantages.
- The variables will not be manipulated and hence, the result cannot be statistically analyzed.
- The observational results cannot be repeated and therefore, the experiment cannot be replicated and results cannot be reviewed either.
- Absence of informed consent from the participants
- Lack of accuracy and precession in case the observer is partially insensitive
- Methodology
- The research will take a naturalistic observation approach whereby unsystematic and unstructured observation on the 19-year-olds wide range of behaviors will take place. The investigator will infiltrate the 19-year-old drinkers and alcohol drinkers as a spy and indulge in their activities when his true identity is concealed to avoid bias.
References
Myers, D.G. (2010). Exploring psychology in modules (8th ed.). New York: Worth Publishing.
Handerson State University. (2010). Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions. Web.
NIAAA. (2006). Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented? Web.