Alcohol and the validation of experimental aggression paradigms: the Taylor reaction time procedure.
The aim was to find out whether intoxicated and sober subjects would calibrate a shock scale to the same objective level and whether shocks received would be subjectively experienced in the same way in terms of pain and discomfort. The intention was also to replicate previous studies attributing an aggression enhancing effect to alcohol. The subjective ratings were made within the Taylor reaction time 'aggression machine'. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to either an alcohol or a control group. The former drank 0.8 ml of pure alcohol/kg body wt. Results indicated no differences among groups on a shock setting measure of aggression under unprovoked or provoked conditions and no differences in level of calibration of shocks or in subjective ratings of pain and discomfort. These results were contrary to all predictions and are discussed as indirectly supportive of an hypothesis stating that this version of the 'aggression machine' may not generate a valid measure of aggression when used in alcohol research.
Gustafson
R
R
Department of Psychology, University of Orebro, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D004597:Electroshock; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol