“Groupdrink”? The Effect of Alcohol on Risk Attraction Among Groups Versus Individuals

The influence of groups and alcohol consumption on individual risk-taking

“…In contrast, Abrams et al (2006) found there was an alcohol-related increase in risk-taking behaviour in those who took part in isolation, whereas groups risk choice did not differ following alcohol or placebo. Contrariwise to , this points to a possible protective effect of social context whereby usual alcoholinduced risk-taking is diminished when making decisions collectively as a group.…”

“…However, there have been to this point, very few studies which have attempted to examine both the social and alcohol consumption effects on risk-taking behaviour, and there have been conflicting findings evident in such efforts (Abrams, Hopthrow, Hulbert, & Frings, 2006;Hopthrow, Randsley de Moura, Meleady, Abrams, & Swift, 2014;Sayette, Dimoff, Levine, Moreland, & Votruba-Drzal, 2012).…”

“…In , all participants consumed their beverages within group contexts, before completing a risky decision either within their groups or alone. In contrast, participants in Abrams et al (2006) remained in the same context (in isolation or in a group) throughout the study, and therefore some participants consumed their beverages in isolation. As such, it may be suggested that participants respond differently following social drinking , compared to drinking in isolation (Abrams et al, 2006).…”

“…In contrast, participants in Abrams et al (2006) remained in the same context (in isolation or in a group) throughout the study, and therefore some participants consumed their beverages in isolation. As such, it may be suggested that participants respond differently following social drinking , compared to drinking in isolation (Abrams et al, 2006). A further consideration of previous studies regards their measurement of risk-taking as a collective decision (Abrams et al, 2006;Hopthrow et al, 2014; as opposed to assessing an individual's risk-taking decision in the presence of others.…”

“…As such, it may be suggested that participants respond differently following social drinking , compared to drinking in isolation (Abrams et al, 2006). A further consideration of previous studies regards their measurement of risk-taking as a collective decision (Abrams et al, 2006;Hopthrow et al, 2014; as opposed to assessing an individual's risk-taking decision in the presence of others. Indeed, the concept of risk-taking is multi-faceted and risk-taking behaviour occurring in social settings is not always preceded by a group discussion and is often spontaneous (B.…”