Effects of thought suppression on provoked men’s alcohol-related physical aggression in the laboratory.

Abstract

Objective This study utilized a comprehensive theoretical approach to provide the first data on the impact of thought suppression on provoked men’s alcohol-related aggression. Method A diverse community sample (58% African-American) of males between the ages of 21 and 35 (M = 25.25) were randomly assigned to one of two beverage conditions (i.e., alcohol, no-alcohol control). Following beverage consumption, participants were provoked via reception of electric shocks and a verbal insult from a fictitious male opponent. Participants’ physical aggression was measured using a shock-based aggression task. Results Results indicated that acute alcohol intoxication significantly increased physical aggression among lower, but not higher, thought suppressing men. Conclusions Results suggest that, under conditions of interpersonal provocation, alcohol intoxication produces a myopic focus on hostile thoughts and angry affect in lower, but not higher, suppression men. This pattern of results provides support for the durability of the alcohol myopia effect and highlights the need for continued examination of alcohol’s role in the disruption of protective factors for men’s aggression. It is important for research to continue to identify modifiable cognitive variables that influence self-regulation of behavior; however, it is imperative that researchers consider the extent to which these variables withstand alcohol’s effects.

Gender Influence on severe Mental Disorders: Relationship between Behavior Problems and Family Burden

“…Men also showed significant differences in SBP, mainly explained by higher scores on the impulse dyscontrol behavior dimension. The results are in agreement with studies that emphasize the importance of socialization in men learning maladaptive emotional control strategies, associated with an increase in behavioral disinhibition, unhealthy behaviors, or acts of aggression by men (Gallagher et al, 2014;Panno et al, 2013).…”

Effects of alcohol on human aggression

“…To address this gap, pertinent theory [••14] posits that alcohol-induced attention towards provocation produces (1) general negative affect that may subsequently generate a refined affective state of anger, (2) excessive hostile rumination about the provocation, the transgressor, and/or the behavioral responses required to resolve the provocative situation, and (3) reductions in self-awareness. Studies indicate that aggression is more likely when these more proximal processes are induced [28, 29, 30], which is further supported by studies that directly examine alcohol effects (anger: [31, 32, 33]; hostile rumination: [34, 35]; self-awareness: [••25, 36]). Collectively, these findings suggest that alcohol-induced attentional biases may increase aggression risk by (1) concentrating attentional processes on angry affect and the hostile transgression, and (2) compromising attentional processing of internal standards and situational norms, which will increase the likelihood that intoxicated behavior does not appropriately match situational, non-aggressive norms.…”

Diagnostic Criteria for Problematic Internet Use among U.S. University Students: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation

“…Students can use the Internet anytime and anywhere due to the wide adoption of campus-wide Internet access, smartphones, and data coverage [ 4 ]. This may limit the visible manifestation of symptoms such as tolerance in that there is a “ceiling effect” [ 41 ]—it is impossible for students to spend more than 24 hours in one day on the Internet. In addition, students in the focus groups appeared to be able to access the Internet whenever they have a desire to engage in Internet-related activities.…”