Alcohol primes, expectancies, and the working self-concept.
Previous research has shown that alcohol consumption can lead to momentary changes in the self-concept (e.g., Steele & Josephs, 1990). In two studies (n = 150), we examined whether the implicit activation of alcohol expectancies (i.e., sociability-related expectancies) would also lead to changes in self-perception. To test this idea, participants first completed a measure of sociability-related alcohol expectancies. In a subsequent laboratory session, participants were exposed to either alcohol-related primes (i.e., pictures or words associated with alcohol) or neutral primes. After the priming task, participants completed an ostensibly unrelated self-concept survey that contained words related to sociability (e.g., "outgoing") and nonsociability related words (e.g., "clever"). For both studies, results revealed that sociability-related alcohol expectancies were positively associated with sociability-related self-concept ratings for participants exposed to alcohol primes, but not for participants exposed to the neutral primes. Implications for the role implicit self-concept activation may have on drinking behaviors are discussed.
Hicks
Joshua A
JA
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA. Joshua.hicks@gmail.com
Schlegel
Rebecca J
RJ
Friedman
Ronald S
RS
McCarthy
Denis M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001244:Association; D003463:Cues; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012718:Set, Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult