Effect of Alcohol on Other Behaviors

• Author: James G. Wigmore
• Pages: 257-372

 

 

Ef‌fect of Alcohol on Other Behaviors

Since alcohol is ubiquitous in most Western societies, it is not surpris-

ing that many other human behaviors in addition to driving a motor

vehicle are af‌fected by alcohol. The following are some of the signs of

the decreased inhibitions caused by alcohol intoxication that can lead

to trauma/violence:

• Boisterou s behavior

• Being argu mentative

• Confrontat ional behavior

• Animated or exaggerated act ions

• Obnoxious beh avior

• Saying or doing things that one would not normal ly do when sober

• Exhibiti ng bravado

• Making loud comments about other people in the vicinity

The high incidence of alcohol use in many crimes such a s sexual assault

and homicide gives credence to the old saying that alcohol is but “dis-

tilled crime.”

. AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE

There appears to be an association between alcohol consumption and

aggression from laboratory studies (–) and f‌ield studies (–).

Alcohol may increase aggression and violent crimes as it can induce al-

cohol “myopia” () and is usually involved in incidents of air rage

() and road rage (, ).

  Wigmore on Alcohol

Reference Number: 

Reference Number: 

, .., .. ,  .. . “Alcohol and Aggression: A So-

cial Information Processing Analysis.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol, :

–,  ( tables,  references)

Abstract: Forty male subjects (ages – years) were assigned to a control,

placebo, low-alcohol (.g/kg), or high-alcohol (.g/kg) group. The

dose was consumed within  minutes, and breath alcohol concentra-

tions (BrACs) were determined by an Intoximeter . The mean BrACs

were .g/mL for the low-alcohol group and .g/mL for

the high-alcohol group. Subjects viewed a series of eight videotapes de-

picting a dormitory television room scenario in which a person cha nged

the televis ion channel.

The major f‌inding of the present study is that a .g/kg dose of alcohol

was associated with aggressive responses to a provocation. Moreover,

latter skills in a social information processing model were implicated in

aggressive responding.

Reference Number: 

, .., .. , .. ,  .. . “The Ef‌fects

of a Cumulative Alcohol Dosing Procedure on Laboratory Aggression

in Women and Men.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol, : –,  (

f‌igures,  references)

Abstract: Thirteen female and  male subjects (mean age  years) on

 separate days consumed three placebo drinks or three alcohol drinks

(.g/kg each) at -hour intervals. The alcohol dose was reduced by %

for female subjects. The subjects were tested on aggression. BrACs were

determined with an Intoximeter  III. The mean pe ak BrAC for both

male and female subjects wa s .g/mL.

Our most important f‌indings were that: ) alcohol increased aggres-

sive responding that was not specif‌ic to either gender; ) aggressive

responding increased during the ascending limb of th e BAC [blood alco-

hol concentration] curve and remained elevated for several hours after

alcohol consumption; and ) the aggression increasing ef‌fects of alco-

hol were particular to individuals who were aggressive under placebo

conditions.

Ef‌fect of Alcohol on Other Behaviors  

Reference Number: 

Reference Number: 

, . “Male Alcohol-Related Aggression as a Function of Type of

Dri nk.” Aggressive Behavior, : –,  ( table,  references)

Abstract: Ninety male subjects (ages – years) consumed . mL of

% alcohol as vodka (%), red wine (%), or beer (.%) or a placebo or

control within  minutes. Aggression was measured with a computer-

ized version of the Taylor “aggression machine.” BrACs were determined

with a Lion Breathalyzer S-D. The mean BrACs were .g/mL

(spirits), .g/mL (wine), and .g/mL (beer).

The hypothesis of the present study was to a large extent conf‌irmed.

Under both nonprovocative and provocative conditions, alcohol intoxi-

cation induced by spirits elicited more aggression in terms of shock in-

tensity and shock duration than did intoxication induced by either be er

or wine.

Reference Number: 

, ..,  .. . “The Ef‌fect of Past-Year Heavy Drinking

on Alcohol-Related Aggression.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol, : –

,  ( tables,  f‌igure,  references)

Abstract: One hundred f‌ifty-two male and  female subjects (ages –

 years) were surveyed as to their drinking history. The subjects were

divided into a placebo or an alcohol group. The alcohol was consumed

within  minutes (.g/kg for male and .g/kg for female subjects).

BrACs were determined with an Alco-Sensor IV. The subjects were tested

for aggression using a modif‌ied Taylor Aggression Paradigm. The mean

BrAC was .g/mL.

In conclusion, this is the f‌irst investigation to examine the moderating

ef‌fects of a history of heav y episodic drinking on the alcohol-aggression

relation in men and women. The results support the hypothesis that

alcohol is more likely to increase aggression in persons (i.e. men) who

tend to consume alcohol in large quantities.

Reference Number: 

, .., .. ,  .. . “Alcohol Consumption and

the Occurrence and Severity of Aggression: An Event-Based Analysis