Negative and positive expectancies in lone and group problem drinkers

In this experiment we show that measuring positive expectancy of alcohol use does not discriminate between lone and group problem drinkers whereas measuring negative expectancy does. Reliably, lower measures in group drinkers is consistent with: (i) our view that negative expectancy provides the motivation for problem drinkers to quit and that anything which inhibits the translation of negative experience into negative expectancy will correspondingly inhibit motivation; and with (ii) the observations of others that social (or group) support can, indeed, often inhibit recovery.