Effects of drinking on the power and affiliation needs of middle-aged females

Power and affiliation motivation was measured among 37 middle-aged females before and after consumption of alcohol in a familiar social setting. The results indicated that, contrary to the findings reported for males, n power and personal power motives declined significantly among moderate-drinking female Ss. Although social power needs increased at all tested levels of alcohol consumption, these increases did not reach statistical significance. Contrary to expectation, affiliation needs declined significantly after only moderate drinking. These results cast some doubt upon the applicability to females of the McClelland, et al. approach for treatment of alcoholism.