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Understanding acute alcohol effects on sexual behavior.
1Department of Psychology, Box 351525, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA. bgeorge@u.washington.edu
Annual Review of Sex Research
|May 16, 2001
Summary
Alcohol consumption can causally impact sexual behaviors and outcomes. Research indicates alcohol influences genital arousal, sexual risk-taking, and sexual assault, with alcohol myopia offering strong explanations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is frequently linked to various sexual processes and outcomes.
- Understanding the causal relationship between alcohol and sexuality is crucial for public health and individual well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review nonexperimental and experimental research on alcohol's causal role in sexual processes.
- To examine the effects of alcohol on genital arousal, sexual risk-taking, and sexual assault.
- To explore theoretical models explaining alcohol's impact on sexuality.
Main Methods:
- Review of nonexperimental studies examining alcohol-sexuality associations.
- Analysis of experimental (analogue paradigm) findings on alcohol's effects.
- Application of alcohol expectancy and alcohol myopia theories.
Main Results:
- Alcohol exerts a demonstrable causal effect on multiple sexual responses.
- Experimental data supports alcohol's influence on genital arousal, sexual risk-taking, and sexual assault.
- Alcohol expectancy models explain post-drinking sexual perceptions, while myopia models best explain risk-taking and assault.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol has a significant causal impact on various studied sexuality indices under laboratory conditions.
- Alcohol myopia provides a more compelling explanation for alcohol-related sexual risk-taking and sexual assault.
- Further research integrating expectancy and myopia models can deepen understanding of alcohol's complex effects on sexual behavior.
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