Which term refers to the study of the cause of substance related disorders, including genetic factors and self-medication?

• A. Etiology of substance related disorders
• B. Sociocultural view of etiology
• C. Behavioral view of etiology
• D. Biological view of etiology

Answer: (A)

Etiology is the study of why a disorder occurs—the causes and origins. When we look at substance related disorders, causes can include genetic predisposition and self-medication, among other factors. Saying the etiology of substance related disorders names the overall investigation of these causes, which is why it’s the best answer. The other perspectives describe specific lenses for explaining causes—sociocultural focuses on social and cultural influences, behavioral on learned actions and reinforcement, and biological on genetic and physiological factors—but they are not the general term for studying the causes themselves.