Final answer:
Inherited factors that can increase the risk of developing alcoholism include genetic predisposition, family history of substance abuse, and environmental factors such as exposure to alcohol at a young age.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inherited factors that increase the risk of developing alcoholism include genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and family history. Genetic factors can make individuals more susceptible to addiction. Studies have shown that children with parents who have substance abuse problems are at higher risk for developing similar issues, with a risk of neglect and abuse that is significantly greater than that of their peers. Abused children have about a 30% chance of repeating the cycle with their own offspring.
Environmental factors such as exposure to alcohol at a young age, social isolation, and depression also contribute to the risk. Particularly, fetal alcohol syndrome is a consequence of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and can predispose children to a range of problems, including a potential proclivity for alcoholism. The approach to alcoholism has evolved over time, shifting from a view of personal fault to understanding it as a disease, often with a genetic component.