Cognitive Ability and Risk for Alcoholism: Short-Term Memory Capacity and Intelligence Moderate Personality Risk for Alcohol Problems.

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that short-term memory (STM) capacity moderates the effect of social deviance on alcohol problems. Personality, cognitive ability, and alcohol use and abuse were assessed in the adult offspring of alcoholics (FHPs; n = 153) and the adult offspring of nonalcoholics (FHNs; n = 150). The results revealed that STM capacity moderated the effect of social deviance on alcohol problems, independent of intelligence. High social deviance and high-STM participants had fewer alcohol problems than did high social deviance and low-STM participants. Intelligence also moderated the effect of social deviance on alcohol problems in the same way, independent of STM capacity. FHPs had lower IQs, lower verbal ability, and more response perseveration than FHNs. The results suggest that working memory capacity moderates the risk for alcoholism associated with disinhibited traits.

Role of Working Memory Updating and Working Memory Capacity in Moderating the Relationship between Impulsivity with Propensity of Risk Taking Behaviors and Decision Making in Boy Adolescents

“…Grenard et al (2008) in their study reported that associations related to drug among adolescents exposed to low working memory capacity compared to individuals with high working memory capacity are stronger forecasts for alcohol and cigarette abuse. Ellingson et al (2004) obtained the same results with the findings of research by Finn & Hall (2004). According to recent study, it has been displayed that interaction between working memory capacity and social deviation forecasts alcohol involvement for three years.…”

“…No effect of working memory capacity on risky decision making displays moderator role of working memory capacity on impulsivity (Amos, Tash, Sussman, & Stock, 2008;Tash, Amos, Sussman, & Stock, 2008;Ellingson et al, 2014). Finn & Hall (2004) reported in their research that social deviation (impulsivity) has stronger bond with the problems related to alcohol among the participants with low working memory capacity compared to the individuals with higher working memory capacity. Further, individuals with high social deviation and low short-term memory capacity than the individuals with high social deviation and high short-term memory capacity have reported higher scores in Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST).…”

“…In this study, it has been displayed that some of indices of impulsivity are moderated in relationship with alcohol involvement by means of working memory capacity. Few studies have been conducted to test Cognitive-motivational theory of Finn (Finn & Hall, 2004;Ellingson et al, 2014). Further, extension of this theory in the context of a series of risky behaviors at adolescence regarding specific developmental conditions at this period has been discarded in the literature review.…”

“…Some studies have provided supports for cognitive-motivational theory. In a study by Finn & Hall (2004), it has been indicated that working memory capacity independent of intelligence moderates effect of social deviance on alcohol problems. Further, findings indicated that group with low working memory capacity but high impulsivity has reported greater risk taking in the context of alcohol problems.…”

Older adults make less advantageous decisions than younger adults: Cognitive and psychological correlates

“…Table 1 presents the number of positive diagnoses by group and gender. Personality traits reflecting antisocial tendencies (Finn & Hall, 2004) were assessed using the Psychopathic Deviance scale of the MMPI-2 (MMPI_Pd) (Hathaway & McKinley, 1989), the Socialization scale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI_So) (Gough, 1969), and the sum of Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder symptom counts from the CDIS (CD_ASPD). Research shows that these different measures of personality and antisocial symptoms are significantly associated with disadvantageous decisions on the IGT in young adult samples (Mazas et al, 2000;Stout et al, 2005).…”