Alcohol expectancies and sexuality: a self-fulfilling prophecy analysis of dyadic perceptions and behavior.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the self-fulfilling prophecy hypothesis that belief in an "alcohol enhances/stimulates sex" expectancy fosters heightened sexual behavior-via effects on intermediate sexual perceptions. To test this notion, we investigated the effects of self-reported alcohol expectancies, alcohol expectancy set and a co-participant's gender and apparent drinking status on dyadic viewing of erotica.


METHODS
Sex-related alcohol expectancies were assessed in 100 male moderate social drinkers. In a subsequent session, participants were led to believe they were consuming either alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks. No alcohol was actually administered. Each participant rated his sexual arousal, rated an alcohol-drinking or nondrinking co-participant on sexual disinhibition and then viewed erotic slides with the co-participant. Slide viewing times were assessed unobtrusively.


RESULTS
Path analysis revealed support for the self-fulfilling prophecy hypothesis: Expectancy score (moderated by alcohol expectancy set) heightened viewing indirectly via effects on sexual arousal (beta = .26) and perceived disinhibition (beta = .25). Sexual arousal in turn predicted perceived disinhibition (beta = .37), which in turn predicted viewing (beta = .23). Co-participant drinking had direct (beta = .21) and indirect (beta = .40 via perceived disinhibition) effects on viewing.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol expectancy variables-apart from alcohol-interactively determined men's responding in a dyadic sexual situation. Consistent with psychosocial formulations, predrinking expectancy steered postdrinking perceptions along an expectancy-congruent course to shape subsequent behavior. Thus, alcohol's role in stimulating men's sexual responding cannot be construed as occurring through a strictly pharmacological mechanism. Speculations about the comparative domains of expectancy versus alcohol explanations are discussed.
George
W H
WH
Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Stoner
S A
SA
Norris
J
J
Lopez
P A
PA
Lehman
G L
GL
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires