Alcohol Myopia and Risky Behavior

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses a research experiment into whether alcohol use, regardless of environmental cues, is linked to increased likelihood to engage in unsafe sex - that is, to not use condoms. The paper analyzes whether alcohol intoxication, triggered by environmental cues, can result in risky behavior. The paper presents the experiment design and how the research was conducted.

Table of Contents:
Experimental Design
Non-Experimental/Correlation Design
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Alcohol is linked with risky behavior by researchers, the media and popular culture. Alcohol myopia theory has proven in a number of experiments that intoxicated individuals are not as susceptible to mild or submissive environmental cues, however, as much as suggestive cues. Nevertheless, alcohol consumption is a large part of social relaxation for many people, and the risky behavior and interpretative thinking intoxicated people engage in are therefore important fodder for study. The former study outlined above tests environmental cues associated with intoxication in the form of the subject matter of a movie; the latter experiment tests environmental cues in terms of public displays of acceptable, outlandish drunken behavior."

Sample of Sources Used:

• MacDonald, T.K., Fong, G.R., Zanna, M.P. and Martineau, A.M. (2000). Alcohol myopia and condom use: Can alcohol intoxication be associated with more prudent behavior? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78 (4), 605-619.
• MacDonald, T.K., MacDonald, G.M., Zanna, M.P. and Fong, G.T. (2000). Alcohol, sexual arousal, and intentions to use condoms in young men: Applying alcohol myopia theory to risky sexual behavior. Health Psychology, 19 (3), 290-298.
• MacDonald, T.K., Zanna, M.P. and Fong, G.T. (1996). Why common sense goes out the window: Effects of alcohol on intentions to use condoms. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22 (8), 763-775.

More papers on Alcohol Myopia and Risky Behavior:

• Term Paper # 122186 : "Alcohol Myopia Theory"
• Analytical Essay # 132568 : "Psychology: Alcohol and Risk Behavior"

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