ALCOHOL AND AGRESSION

Abstract

This article rcviews the acute effects of alcohol on aggressive responding. The article is mainly restricted to experimental research that uses human subjects. Annual research, criminal statistical studies, and social anthropological studies do not allow any definite conclusions regarding the effects of alcohol on aggression. From experimental studies that use liunlan subjects it is concluded that a moderate dose of alcohol does not increase aggression if subjects are unprovoked. Under provocative conditions, aggression is increased as a function of alcohol intoxication - provided that subjects are restricted to an aggressive response. If subjects also have access to a non-aggressive response, no increase in aggression is observed. Beer and wine do not increase aggression under any conditions. Disinhibition and arousal cannot explain the empirical results. A model assuming changes in the attentional processes is a more promising explanation. It is possible to propose a number of preventive measures. The most drastic one is to restrict the availability of liquor by controlling, for example, the type and number of outlets where liquor can be bought. A review of relevant research suggests that all measures aiming at the reduction of individual and collective frustration and other forms of provocations would reduce the level of alcohol related aggression. It is also possible to train alternative behavioral strategies so that non-aggressive alternatives would be equally strong or stronger than aggressive alternatives in the behavioral hierarchy.