Problematic alcohol use and acute intoxication predict anger-related attentional biases: A test of the alcohol myopia theory.

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated a significant association between alcohol and aggression. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined alcohol's effects on an attentional bias toward aggressogenic cues as the first step in a possible mediation model of alcohol-facilitated intimate partner aggression. More specifically, we tested an interactive effect of problematic alcohol use and acute alcohol intoxication on an attentional bias toward anger words. Participants in this study were 249 male and female heavy drinkers from the community with a history of past-year intimate partner aggression perpetration who participated in an alcohol-administration laboratory study assessing the effect of alcohol intoxication on cognitive biases. Multiple linear regression was used to test the proposed moderation model. Acute alcohol intoxication moderated the effect of problematic alcohol use on an attentional bias toward anger, with this effect being stronger for individuals in the alcohol compared to no-alcohol control condition. These findings suggest that problematic drinkers may be more likely to attend to aggressogenic stimuli while acutely intoxicated, relative to when they are sober.

Cognitive and Affective Mediators of Alcohol-Facilitated Intimate-Partner Aggression

“…Our tests of both between- and within-subjects effects support articulated aggressive cognitions as a significant mediator of alcohol-facilitated IPA perpetration. These findings are consistent with previous research, including alcohol-administration studies using the ATSS paradigm (Eckhardt, 2007), which suggests that heavy drinking is associated with IPA primarily among individuals who endorse dispositional tendencies in aggression-related cognitive biases (e.g., Tharp et al, 2012) and who are susceptible to alcohol-related shifts in attention toward provocative cues (Gallagher et al, 2010; Massa et al, 2019).…”

“…Cross-sectional studies suggest that heavy drinking is associated with IPA primarily among individuals who endorse dispositional tendencies in aggression-related cognitive biases (e.g., high hostility; Lisco, Parrott, & Tharp, 2012; Tharp, Schumacher, Samper, McLeish, & Coffey, 2012) or who are susceptible to alcohol-related shifts in attention toward instigatory cues (e.g., low mindfulness; Gallagher, Hudepohl, & Parrott, 2010). Recent alcohol-administration-based research within our lab indicates that individuals with a recent history of IPA and problematic alcohol use were more likely to attend to aggressogenic situational cues while intoxicated but not while sober (Massa, Subramani, Eckhardt, & Parrott, 2019).…”

Risk-Taking Behavior and the Consumption of Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink among Australian, Dutch and UK Students

“…Indeed, scientific research has consistently shown that higher levels of alcohol consumption are associated with increased risk-taking behavior and more frequently experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Some risky behaviors associated with alcohol-related consequences include driving under the influence of alcohol [ 11 , 12 ], drinking until blacking out [ 13 ], increased violence or aggression [ 14 , 15 ], sexual risk-taking [ 16 ] and other risks that may lead to injury [ 17 ]. Given the severity of consequences experienced, it is important to examine the factors that might mediate the relationship between heavy alcohol consumption and risk-taking behaviors.…”

Do sexual expectancies and inhibitions predict high-risk sexual behaviours? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey among young psychoactive substance users in the informal settlements of Kampala, Uganda

“…Based on the cognitive escape theory, individuals may opt to use certain substances to escape the self-known implications of high-risk sexual behaviours (11). Similarly, the alcohol myopia theory points out that the use of psychoactive substances such as alcohol often alters perceptions, mood and decision making (5,12). Therefore, psychoactive substances are often used to disengage the mental processes related to the prevention of negative consequences of high-risk sexual behaviour (12,13).…”

“…Similarly, the alcohol myopia theory points out that the use of psychoactive substances such as alcohol often alters perceptions, mood and decision making (5,12). Therefore, psychoactive substances are often used to disengage the mental processes related to the prevention of negative consequences of high-risk sexual behaviour (12,13). Cognitive escape is often driven by expectancies such as better sexual pleasure and performance, and is often associated with turning attention away from threatening cues (14).…”