A review of expectancy theory and alcohol consumption

Abstract

Research is reviewed on the association between alcohol outcome expectancies and consumption which has led many to argue that manipulating expectancies might be a route to manipulating consumption for problem prevention and treatment. Studies indirectly and directly evaluating this latter position are reviewed. Expectancies predicting treatment outcome: two studies have shown that the more positive expectancies held at treatment, the poorer is treatment outcome, but five other studies have failed to find this. Three related studies have shown that the more negative expectancies held at treatment, the better the treatment outcome. This evaluation provides evidence inconsistent with the main position for positive expectancy and limited support for negative. Expectancy manipulations and ad libitum consumption: three studies in the laboratory have shown that increasing positive expectancies through word priming increases subsequent consumption and two studies have shown that increasing negative expectancies decreases it. A single study in the field showed a similar relationship. This evaluation provides evidence consistent with the main position but is limited by measuring consumption changes over only 1-2 hours. Prevention programmes with expectancy components: seven projects are reviewed in which positive expectancies were targeted, but only two report an expectancy change analysis and in both cases the expectancy change did not relate to subsequent consumption. This evaluation provides evidence inconsistent with the main position. Expectancy challenge: two related studies are reviewed in which positive expectancy challenges reduce subsequent consumption but changes in expectancy were not evaluated as predictors of consumption change. Two studies are reviewed which found a reduction in positive expectancy following expectancy challenge but no reduction in consumption. One study is reviewed in which when negative expectancy was increased in treatment there was a better treatment outcome at 3 months follow-up than when it was not. This evaluation provides evidence inconsistent with the main position for positive expectancy and limited consistent evidence for negative. It is concluded that the research has still to be done that securely links expectancy manipulations with subsequent changes in consumption, and fulfils the early promise from association studies.

Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Amplifies the Incentive Value of Reward-Predictive Cues Through Potentiation of Phasic Dopamine Signaling

“…Specifically, clinical research has demonstrated that the amount of alcohol consumed is reliably correlated with the degree to which individuals have positive over negative alcohol outcome expectancies (Jones et al, 2001). The current findings provide insight into the development of such an imbalance in the weighting of positive and negative experiences and a candidate neural mechanism underlying the neurocognitive and behavioral consequences of adolescent alcohol consumption that may contribute to an enhanced vulnerability for developing AUD in adulthood.…”

Leaving Behind What We are Not: Applying a Systems Thinking Perspective to Present Unlearning as an Enabler for Finding the Best Version of the Self

“…They are also dependent on negative experiences, such as failures, which may 'tend to lower their goals, decrease their efforts, and lessen the intensity and effectiveness of their strategy search' (Locke 1996: 120;Moskowitz 2002). In a similar vein, expectancy theory states that our behaviour is dependent on the reinforcing effects that we expect from performing (Bandura 1977;Jones, Corbin, and Fromme 2001), i.e. it relates to experiences that we have made in the past.…”

Trajectories and determinants of alcohol use among LGB young adults and their heterosexual peers: Results from a prospective study.

“…Alcohol-related expectancies, both positive and negative, are beliefs about the effects of drinking alcohol. A substantial literature documents the association between alcohol expectancies and drinking behavior across time (e.g., Goldman, Brown, & Christiansen, 1987;Jones, Corbin, & Fromme, 2001). …”