Modification of affective consequences of alcohol: A comparison of social and solitary drinking.

Abstract

Using Schachter's theory of emotion as a starting point, two predictions regarding the interaction of alcohol consumed in social and solitary situations were tested experimentally. It was predicted that the cognitive circumstances of social drinking would promote an affective response to alcohol, whereas the same objective level of intoxication would be responded to as physical symptoms among solitary drinkers. Additionally, it was predicted that the social manipulation would be effective only to the extent that "plasticity" was induced, that is, only when alcohol and not placebo was consumed. Both predictions were generally confirmed, using self-report of mood and observer ratings of amusement as dependent variables. It was conjectured that the social circumstances of drinking may be important in determining the reinforcing value of the intoxicated state.

The effects of alcohol on emotion in social drinkers

“…Consistent with the findings of Pliner and Cappell (1974), my colleagues and I have been guided by the premise that to comprehensively identify the effects of alcohol on positive affect in social drinkers, one must evaluate such participants in a social context (Sayette et al, 2012a). Further, in light of the reliably observed effects of alcohol in unstructured social interactions and the inconsistent data found during scripted interactions employing confederates (Fairbairn & Sayette, 2014), our approach investigates the impact of alcohol on initial group formation using groups of unacquainted participants interacting in an unscripted setting.…”

“…Surprisingly, however, these social drinking participants often find themselves drinking in isolation in the laboratory (Fairbairn & Sayette, 2014). In a study that should have done more to reposition the field, Pliner and Cappell (1974) contrasted the effects of alcohol while consumed alone to those observed while in groups. Participants drinking in groups reported and displayed changes that were primarily emotional (e.g., feeling less unhappy), while those consuming alcohol in isolation reported primarily physiological changes (e.g., feeling dizzier).…”

Social reward-conditioned place preference: A model revealing an interaction between cocaine and social context rewards in rats

“…The findings contribute to an existing literature that suggests social context plays an important role in the subjective effects of drugs. For instance, in humans alcohol consumption in the presence of peers is more pleasurable than drinking alone (Adesso, 1985;Pliner & Cappell, 1974;Smith et al, 1975). In animals, social interaction can attenuate an alcohol aversion (Gauvin et al, 1994), and can influence the general responsiveness and sensitivity to alcohol (Varlinskaya et al, 2001).…”

Alcohol and Cognitive Function: Assessment in Everyday Life and Laboratory Settings Using Mobile Phones

“…Some observational studies have assessed the differences in consumption between solitary and social drinkers, and found that those in a group drink more than those who are alone (Lindman, 1982). Mood changes can also be influenced by social setting, with lone drinkers reported less euphoria and more aversive subjective effects of alcohol than those drinking in company (Lindman, 1982;Pliner and Cappell, 1974). Responses to alcohol in the lab may also be influenced by the instructions ⁄ information given by the experimenter.…”