Alcohol and aggression: A test of the affect-arousal hypothesis

Abstract

Forty‐eight male social drinkers participated in a study designed to test the interaction between prevailing mood and alcohol on aggressive behavior in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Half of the subjects underwent a positive mood‐induction procedure, while the other half underwent a negative mood‐induction procedure. Within each of these conditions, one‐third of the subjects received 1.32 ml/kg of 95% ethanol, one‐third received placebo drinks, and the rest remained sober. Aggression was measured using a modified version of the Buss aggression machine. Results indicated that subjects receiving alcohol were significantly more aggressive than placebo or sober subjects. The mood‐induction procedure, while significantly altering affect, did not affect aggressive responding. These findings are discussed with respect to levels of blood‐alcohol and alcohol‐aggression theories.

Experimentally induced anxiety attenuates alcohol-related aggression in men.

“…The success of a placebo manipulation is evidenced by reports that participants had consumed alcohol, not that they believed that they were equally intoxicated as those who had received a high dose of alcohol (Martin & Sayette, 1993;Sayette, Martin, Wertz, Perrott, & Peters, 2005). This has been demonstrated repeatedly in previous studies using placebo manipulations (Chermack & Taylor, 1995;McCloskey & Berman, 2003;Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

Experimentally induced anxiety attenuates alcohol-related aggression in men.

“…The success of a placebo manipulation is evidenced by reports that participants had consumed alcohol, not that they believed that they were equally intoxicated as those who had received a high dose of alcohol (Martin & Sayette, 1993;Sayette, Martin, Wertz, Perrott, & Peters, 2005). This has been demonstrated repeatedly in previous studies using placebo manipulations (Chermack & Taylor, 1995;McCloskey & Berman, 2003;Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

The biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression.

“…Aggression was measured at a BAC of 0.08% because previous studies have found this concentration to be effective in eliciting aggressive behavior (e.g. Gustafson, 1992; Pihl, Smith, & Farrell, 1984; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

Executive functioning: A conceptual framework for alcohol-related aggression.

“…Taylor and colleagues (using the Taylor paradigm) determined that individuals who receive alcohol select higher shock intensity levels than those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Bailey, Leonard, Cranston, & Taylor, 1983; Bailey & Taylor, 1991; Chermack & Taylor, 1995; Gantner & Taylor, 1992; Jeavons & Taylor, 1985; Laplace, Chermack, & Taylor, 1994; Leonard, 1984, 1989; Richardson, 1981; Schmutte & Taylor, 1980; Shuntich & Taylor, 1972; Taylor & Gammon, 1975, 1976; Taylor, Gammon, & Capasso, 1976; Taylor, Schmutte, & Leonard, 1977; Taylor, Schmutte, Leonard, & Cranston, 1979; Taylor & Sears, 1988; Weisman & Taylor, 1994). Using a modified version of the Taylor paradigm, Pihl and colleagues also found that men who receive alcohol administer higher shock intensity levels and longer shock durations compared with those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Hoaken, Assaad, & Pihl, 1998; Lau & Pihl, 1994; Lau, Pihl, & Peterson, 1995; Pihl, Sita, & Gagnier, 1990; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986; Zeichner & Pihl, 1979, 1980; Zeichner, Pihl, Niaura, & Zacchia, 1982). Furthermore, using other modifications of the Taylor paradigm, Giancola and Zeichner (1995a, 1995c, 1997), Zeichner and colleagues (Zeichner, Allen, Giancola, & Lating, 1994; Zeichner, Giancola, & Allen, 1995), and Gustafson (1985a, 1985b, 1985c, 1986a, 1986b, 1991, 1992) replicated the above results.…”

Experimentally induced anxiety attenuates alcohol-related aggression in men.

“…The success of a placebo manipulation is evidenced by reports that participants had consumed alcohol, not that they believed that they were equally intoxicated as those who had received a high dose of alcohol (Martin & Sayette, 1993;Sayette, Martin, Wertz, Perrott, & Peters, 2005). This has been demonstrated repeatedly in previous studies using placebo manipulations (Chermack & Taylor, 1995;McCloskey & Berman, 2003;Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

The biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression.

“…Aggression was measured at a BAC of 0.08% because previous studies have found this concentration to be effective in eliciting aggressive behavior (e.g. Gustafson, 1992; Pihl, Smith, & Farrell, 1984; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

Executive functioning: A conceptual framework for alcohol-related aggression.

“…Taylor and colleagues (using the Taylor paradigm) determined that individuals who receive alcohol select higher shock intensity levels than those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Bailey, Leonard, Cranston, & Taylor, 1983; Bailey & Taylor, 1991; Chermack & Taylor, 1995; Gantner & Taylor, 1992; Jeavons & Taylor, 1985; Laplace, Chermack, & Taylor, 1994; Leonard, 1984, 1989; Richardson, 1981; Schmutte & Taylor, 1980; Shuntich & Taylor, 1972; Taylor & Gammon, 1975, 1976; Taylor, Gammon, & Capasso, 1976; Taylor, Schmutte, & Leonard, 1977; Taylor, Schmutte, Leonard, & Cranston, 1979; Taylor & Sears, 1988; Weisman & Taylor, 1994). Using a modified version of the Taylor paradigm, Pihl and colleagues also found that men who receive alcohol administer higher shock intensity levels and longer shock durations compared with those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Hoaken, Assaad, & Pihl, 1998; Lau & Pihl, 1994; Lau, Pihl, & Peterson, 1995; Pihl, Sita, & Gagnier, 1990; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986; Zeichner & Pihl, 1979, 1980; Zeichner, Pihl, Niaura, & Zacchia, 1982). Furthermore, using other modifications of the Taylor paradigm, Giancola and Zeichner (1995a, 1995c, 1997), Zeichner and colleagues (Zeichner, Allen, Giancola, & Lating, 1994; Zeichner, Giancola, & Allen, 1995), and Gustafson (1985a, 1985b, 1985c, 1986a, 1986b, 1991, 1992) replicated the above results.…”

Experimentally induced anxiety attenuates alcohol-related aggression in men.

“…The success of a placebo manipulation is evidenced by reports that participants had consumed alcohol, not that they believed that they were equally intoxicated as those who had received a high dose of alcohol (Martin & Sayette, 1993;Sayette, Martin, Wertz, Perrott, & Peters, 2005). This has been demonstrated repeatedly in previous studies using placebo manipulations (Chermack & Taylor, 1995;McCloskey & Berman, 2003;Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

The biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression.

“…Aggression was measured at a BAC of 0.08% because previous studies have found this concentration to be effective in eliciting aggressive behavior (e.g. Gustafson, 1992; Pihl, Smith, & Farrell, 1984; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986).…”

Executive functioning: A conceptual framework for alcohol-related aggression.

“…Taylor and colleagues (using the Taylor paradigm) determined that individuals who receive alcohol select higher shock intensity levels than those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Bailey, Leonard, Cranston, & Taylor, 1983; Bailey & Taylor, 1991; Chermack & Taylor, 1995; Gantner & Taylor, 1992; Jeavons & Taylor, 1985; Laplace, Chermack, & Taylor, 1994; Leonard, 1984, 1989; Richardson, 1981; Schmutte & Taylor, 1980; Shuntich & Taylor, 1972; Taylor & Gammon, 1975, 1976; Taylor, Gammon, & Capasso, 1976; Taylor, Schmutte, & Leonard, 1977; Taylor, Schmutte, Leonard, & Cranston, 1979; Taylor & Sears, 1988; Weisman & Taylor, 1994). Using a modified version of the Taylor paradigm, Pihl and colleagues also found that men who receive alcohol administer higher shock intensity levels and longer shock durations compared with those who receive a placebo or a nonalcohol control beverage (Hoaken, Assaad, & Pihl, 1998; Lau & Pihl, 1994; Lau, Pihl, & Peterson, 1995; Pihl, Sita, & Gagnier, 1990; Pihl & Zacchia, 1986; Zeichner & Pihl, 1979, 1980; Zeichner, Pihl, Niaura, & Zacchia, 1982). Furthermore, using other modifications of the Taylor paradigm, Giancola and Zeichner (1995a, 1995c, 1997), Zeichner and colleagues (Zeichner, Allen, Giancola, & Lating, 1994; Zeichner, Giancola, & Allen, 1995), and Gustafson (1985a, 1985b, 1985c, 1986a, 1986b, 1991, 1992) replicated the above results.…”