Effects of provocation and alcohol on human aggressive behavior.
Effects of provoking stimuli on human aggressive behavior and on the relationship between alcohol and aggressive behavior were measured. Four adult males manipulated pushbuttons that produced points on their own counters (redeemable for money) or ostensibly subtracted points (money) from the counters of fictitious persons described as participating in the same study at other locations. During five 10-min components, frequency and intensity of point subtractions, ostensibly controlled by another person, were manipulated. Each subject was repeatedly exposed to alcohol doses (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 g/kg of 95% ethanol) over time using a repeated measures design. Aggressive responding was affected by provocation intensity and frequency. The highest dose of alcohol produced selective increases in aggressive responding; however, no interactions between alcohol effects and provocation conditions were observed.
Kelly
T H
TH
Veterans Administration, Shreveport, LA.
Cherek
D R
DR
Steinberg
J L
JL
Robinson
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male