Effects of Concurrent Fast and Slow Models on Drinking Rate

Abstract

Two male subjects and one female subject drank beer with same sex confederate models in a simulated bar. An ABACA reversal design was used. Condition A indicated subject baseline drinking rate. Condition B consisted of one confederate modeling a high rate concurrent with a second confederate modeling a low rate. For Condition C, confederates modeled in the opposite direction to Condition B. Sessions were of one hour duration. Each condition was continued until stability was reached. Subjects consistently matched the high rate model and ignored the low rate model.

Family history of problem drinking among young male social drinkers: Modeling effects on alcohol consumption.

“…Thus, although educational and prevention programs that provide light drinking models may be generally useful for young male social drinkers, they may be particularly effective for those with a family history of problem drinking. The feasibility of such prevention training has already been indicated byDeRicco and Niemann (1982), who demonstrated that a subject's characteristic intake of alcohol could be dramatically reduced by confederate models who lowered their drinking below that of the subject.…”