Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Effects of alcohol on risk-seeking behavior: a group-level analysis
Michael A Sayette1, Thomas R Kirchner, Richard L Moreland
1Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. sayette@pitt.edu
Abstract:
Although much drinking occurs in social settings, there has been little testing of alcohol in groups. The authors examined the effects of alcohol on performance on a group decision-making task. Fifty-four unacquainted male social drinkers were randomly assigned to 3-person groups that consumed either alcohol (0.82 g/kg) or a placebo. After drinking, participants decided whether to complete a 30-min questionnaire battery or toss a coin and, pending the outcome of that toss, complete either no questionnaires or a 60-min battery. Alcohol groups were significantly more likely than placebo groups to choose the coin toss. Results highlight the potent effects of alcohol on group decision making and suggest that application of social psychological theory and methods to the study of alcohol is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
H0: The two variables (factors)...
Deindividuation
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes

