Effects of alcohol intoxication on the perceived consequences of risk taking.
In 2 laboratory studies, the authors tested the hypothesis that intoxicated risk taking results from alcohol's effects on negative outcome expectancies. Young adults (N = 107) consumed alcohol or no alcohol and made ratings of the likelihood that negative and positive consequences would result from a variety of risky activities. Consistent with study hypotheses, participants rated negative consequences as less likely when they were intoxicated than when sober. Results were replicated in a second study (N = 88), which further showed that alcohol, rather than expectancy set, contributed to these reduced perceptions of risk. Findings provide the first experimental evidence that alcohol intoxication may contribute to risk-taking behavior be altering expectations about negative consequences.
Fromme
K
K
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA. fromme@mail.utexas.edu
Katz
E
E
D'Amico
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D002188:Cannabis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012727:Sex Characteristics