title: The effects of public self-consciousness and embarrassability on college student drinking: evidence in support of a protective self-presentational model.
abstract: In this article we examine the effects of public self-consciousness (PSC) and a cross-situational reactivity to embarrassing encounters (EMB) on college students' levels of alcohol consumption by levels of perceived peer drinking. The analysis of self-report data from two undergraduate samples (n = 118 and n = 195) yielded virtually identical results and suggests that PSC and EMB affect alcohol use primarily among students with friends who drink heavily. Among these individuals, our findings are consistent with a protective self-presentational model. While PSC increased levels of alcohol consumption among students who believed drinking to be prevalent within their social circle if they were low in EMB, a susceptibility to embarrassment in response to the transgressions of self and others counteracted this tendency.
authors: Bradley University, USA.
authors: Lizabeth A
authors: LA
authors: Crawford
authors: Katherine B
authors: KB
authors: Novak
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D003243:Consciousness; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities