Summary: | The aim of this study is to investigate social workers’ attitudes toward alcohol abuse, regarding the relationship between the individuals’ own responsibility of causing and solving its addiction. The thesis also aims to gain a deeper understanding of what the respondents perceive as important in the creation of these attitudes. In this qualitative study six social workers who all have experiences of working with clients suffering from alcohol abuse are interviewed. The results from the interviews are analyzed with social constructivism as theoretical framework, as well as theories regarding how attitudes are created. The results show that our respondents put great responsibility upon the individual. While there is a difference in the way the respondents describe the individuals’ own responsibility, regarding cause and solution of an addiction, still they all agree that the responsibility lies with the individual who is described as capable and responsible for its own life. Furthermore, the results of this study show that various factors, such as the cultural context, the respondents own life experiences, education, work, research, conditions related to the respondents upbringing and fundamental humanity are perceived as important when creating attitudes.
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