The effects of a cumulative alcohol dosing procedure on laboratory aggression in women and men.
OBJECTIVE
This study directly compared the effects of cumulative alcohol dosing procedure on aggression in both women and men.


METHODS
Thirteen women and 13 men consumed three beverages 1 hour apart. There were two experimental conditions: (1) a placebo day, when subjects consumed three 240 ml beverages, each containing only 1 ml of alcohol; and (2) an alcohol day, when subjects consumed three 240 ml beverages, each containing 0.35 g/kg of 95% alcohol. Alcohol doses for women were reduced by 8%. Prior to beverage consumption, and periodically after consumption, subjects participated in 25-minute laboratory testing sessions designed to measure aggression. In this paradigm, subjects could earn points by responding on a button, or aggress toward a fictitious opponent who ostensibly subtracted earnings from them.


RESULTS
Both women and men showed an increase in aggressive responding after drinking alcohol but not placebo. As a group the greatest increases were observed after consuming the second alcohol drink (BAC = 0.08%). Aggressive responding, however, remained elevated for several hours after alcohol consumption. A post hoc analysis of the data indicated that subjects with high aggression levels under placebo conditions showed the greatest increases in aggression under alcohol conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that at least under these conditions, alcohol does increase aggression in both women and men. The aggression-increasing effects of alcohol appear to be long-lasting and specific to individuals with the higher aggressive tendencies while sober.
Dougherty
D M
DM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 77030, USA.
Bjork
J M
JM
Bennett
R H
RH
Moeller
F G
FG
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors