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Attitude change during mild intoxication
Author(s) -
Nordstrom Erik
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239996446
Subject(s) - psychology , alcohol intoxication , alcohol , alcoholic intoxication , clinical psychology , medicine , injury prevention , poison control , medical emergency , biochemistry , chemistry
The effects of mild alcohol intoxication on specific attitudes were investigated in two experiments. The first experiment consisted of two sessions in which 48 subjects gave ratings on seven attitudes and two beliefs. The two sessions were separated by an interval of 1 month. In the second session, half the subjects were administered sufficient ethanol to produce a 0.02‐0.03% blood level during the rating, while the other half repeated the ratings after a non‐alcoholic drink. Only the group receiving ethanol showed significant changes in ratings. The magnitude and direction of these changes varied with the attitude or belief rated. In the second experiment, 48 different subjects gave ratings on seven attitudes on two occasions separated by an interval of 1 month. On the second occasion, all subjects were administered sufficient ethanol to produce a 0.02‐0.03% blood level during the rating. Significant changes in ratings were again observed, with the direction and magnitude of changes consistent with that seen in experiment 1. Whether subjects were rated as relatively high or low consumers of alcohol was not significantly associated with changes in ratings. It is concluded that the changes in attitudes and beliefs that are observed during mild intoxication are specific to the object of the attitude or belief. Mechanisms for such an effect, and its legal and social implications, are discussed.