When Drinking Makes It Worse: The Malevolence Assumption, Appraisals, and Communication Goals

Abstract

This investigation examined the influence of perceived alcohol consumption on appraisals of and communicative goals for problematic events in college students' dating relationships. We suggested that problematic events during which the offender was drinking would lessen offender judgments of responsibility and severity, as well as the likelihood that the offender would consider accepting fault for the event to be an important goal. We also posited that the importance of the goals to maintain the relationship and to manage positive face would vary as a function of who was drinking during the problematic behavior. Using a questionnaire, respondents (N = 228) were asked to imagine that they were an offender in one of two problematic event scenarios that described one of four offender-partner drinking conditions. Respondents then completed measures assessing their appraisals of and communicative intentions for the situation. The results indicated a pattern opposite of what was predicted in several cases, yet highlight unique implications for appraisals and communicative goals based on who was drinking during the problematic event.