Current directions in research on understanding and preventing intoxicated aggression

Abstract

The present paper describes promising research directions that emerged from a recent international conference on intoxication and aggression and from the scientific literature generally. In this overview, intoxicated aggression is seen as arising from an interactional process involving multiple contributing factors or causes. This model helps to define research directions that can further understanding and prevention. First, the societal/cultural framing of intoxication and aggression exerts a powerful influence on drinking behaviour and needs to be better understood. Another important area for research is the moderating role on alcohol-related aggression of personal factors such as predisposition to aggression and individual differences in expectations about alcohol and aggression. Research on the role of basic pharmacological effects of alcohol in increasing the likelihood of aggressive behaviour is also a critical aspect of understanding intoxicated aggression. Drinking contexts and environments play a considerable role in the relationship between intoxication and aggressive behaviour and need to be better understood. Another critical direction for future research is the study of intoxicated aggression as a process involving the interaction of the person, the situation and the effects of alcohol in natural and experimental settings. Finally, the paper highlights promising directions for research on interventions to prevent intoxicated aggression and violence.

Attitudinal, Experiential, and Situational Predictors of Sexual Assault Perpetration

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Psychological Aggression, Physical Aggression, and Injury in Nonpartner Relationships Among Men and Women in Treatment for Substance-Use Disorders

“…The relationship between alcohol and aggression is complex and can best be understood as deriving from an interface between biopsychosocial vulnerabilities and environmental/contextual factors (Chermack and Giancola, 1997;Graham et al, 1998). As argued by these researchers, it is necessary to examine multiple factors potentially contributing to aggression risk to better understand factors related to aggression and to develop assessment and prevention/intervention strategies.…”

Contributions of Work Stressors, Alcohol, and Normative Beliefs to Partner Violence

“…In their review of research on intoxicated aggression, Graham et al (1998) proposed that changing societal/cultural norms regarding violence in the context of drinking (e.g., drinking limiting one's responsibility for engaging in IPV) may be a crucial fi rst step toward preventing alcohol-related aggression. Norms typically refer to expected social behavior (Sherif, 1965) and are defi ned as either the subjective perception of the extent to which signifi cant others approve or disapprove of a particular behavior (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980) or the extent to which signifi cant others engage in the behavior themselves (Grube and Morgan, 1990).…”