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 a lcohol 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 fema le and  male subjects (mean age  years) on

 separate days consumed three placebo drinks or three alcohol drin ks

(.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 f‌inding s were that: ) alcohol increased aggres-

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

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

hol concentration] curve and remained elevated for several hours af ter

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

hol were particular to individuals who were aggressive und er 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 ex tent conf‌irmed.

Under both nonprovocative and provocative conditions, alcohol intoxi-

cation induced by spirits elicited more aggression in term s 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 ma le 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 mod erating

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

relation in men and women. The results suppor t 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