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Advancing the expectancy concept via the interplay between theory and research.
Frances K Del Boca1, Jack Darkes, Mark S Goldman
1University of South Florida, Tampa 33620-8200, USA. fdelboca@chuma1.cas.usf.edu
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|June 18, 2002
Summary
Alcohol expectancy theory offers integrated insights into drinking behavior development and change. Research advances highlight its utility for assessment, intervention, and understanding behavioral processes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Alcohol Research
Background:
- Expectancy theory is a key framework for understanding alcohol use.
- Previous research applied expectancy concepts across diverse domains.
- Advances in understanding alcohol expectancies were presented at a 2001 symposium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent advances in expectancy theory and research.
- To discuss implications for assessment and understanding alcohol use behavior.
- To explore the development and change of alcohol expectancies.
Main Methods:
- Integration of findings across various applications of expectancy theory.
- Examination of expectancy theory's implications for measurement.
- Presentation of research on alcohol expectancy development and change.
- Description of an experimental procedure to investigate causal roles.
Main Results:
- Expectancy theory provides a unified approach to alcohol use research.
- Findings converge across different analytical levels, methods, and designs.
- Expectancies play a role in mediating known antecedents of drinking.
Conclusions:
- Integrated expectancy theory is valuable for generating innovative research.
- The theory offers new insights into behavioral development and change in alcohol use.
- Expectancy theory demonstrates consilience, unifying diverse research findings.