Differences between personal and general alcohol-related beliefs.
The discrepancy between personal alcohol-related statements and general beliefs regarding alcohol was investigated in a community sample of 283 social drinkers. Discriminant analysis showed that subjects perceived themselves as significantly less dependent than others. "Self" statement responses accurately predicted drinking behavior, as measured by consumption; however, general statements did so less effectively. Medium-heavy drinkers considered others to be dependent on alcohol to change aversive events, suggesting that a self-fulfilling bias may have distorted their perception. For most drinkers the self-other discrepancy seemed best explained by media and societal influences rather than by a self-fulfilling bias model.
Oei
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Department of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
Hokin
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Young
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RM
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment