Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
19:57
The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017
Implicit and explicit cognitions related to alcohol use in children
Sara Pieters1, Haske van der Vorst, Rutger C M E Engels
1Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Montessorilaan 3, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. S.pieters@pwo.ru.nl
Addictive Behaviors
|January 19, 2010
Summary
Young children possess implicit and explicit alcohol cognitions that influence their emerging alcohol use. Parental alcohol consumption also impacts these cognitive associations in children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Implicit and explicit alcohol cognitions predict alcohol use in adolescents and adults.
- Limited research exists on these cognitions in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between alcohol cognitions and alcohol use in children.
- To examine the role of parental alcohol use in children's alcohol cognitions and use.
Main Methods:
- Two studies assessed 10- and 11-12-year-old children.
- Implicit Association Test (IAT) measured implicit cognitions; questionnaires assessed explicit expectancies and parental alcohol use.
Main Results:
- Children showed stronger implicit associations between alcohol and negative facial expressions.
- In older children, this negative association correlated with lower alcohol use.
- Paternal drinking linked to implicit negative and explicit arousal associations with alcohol.
Conclusions:
- Young children exhibit both implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognitions.
- These cognitions are significant in understanding emerging alcohol use in elementary schoolchildren.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
01:24Implicit Memories
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
One key aspect of implicit...
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...