Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
05:40
The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
3.1K
Self-control and implicit drinking identity as predictors of alcohol consumption, problems, and cravings
Kristen P Lindgren1, Clayton Neighbors2, Erin Westgate3
1Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
|March 22, 2014
Summary
Self-control and implicit drinking identity influence alcohol consumption and problems. Trait self-control moderates the link between implicit identity and cravings, suggesting intervention targets for problematic drinking.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Implicit drinking identity associations may influence alcohol consumption.
- Self-control, both trait-based and alcohol-specific, is crucial in regulating behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine trait and alcohol-specific self-control as predictors and moderators of the relationship between implicit drinking identity and alcohol-related outcomes.
- To investigate the unique contributions of self-control and implicit drinking identity to alcohol consumption, problems, and cravings.
Main Methods:
- Three hundred undergraduates completed the Implicit Association Test (IAT) for drinking identity, self-control questionnaires, and inventories for alcohol consumption, problems, and cravings.
- Regression analyses were used to test for unique effects and interaction effects (moderation).
Main Results:
- Both trait and alcohol-specific self-control uniquely predicted alcohol consumption, problems, and cravings.
- Trait self-control moderated the relationship between implicit drinking identity and alcohol cravings, and also influenced the likelihood of not having alcohol problems.
- Implicit drinking identity associations did not consistently moderate the effects of self-control on drinking outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Trait and alcohol-specific self-control, along with implicit drinking identity, are significant factors in understanding drinking behavior.
- Findings support the potential of targeting self-control and implicit drinking identity in interventions for problematic alcohol use.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
36.2K
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...
36.2K
01:25Self-Regulation
359
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
359
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
77.8K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
77.8K
01:23Implicit Personality Theories
738
Implicit personality theory explains how individuals make assumptions about the relationships between personality traits, behaviors, and character types. When people learn that someone possesses a particular trait, they tend to infer the presence of other related characteristics, forming a cohesive impression. This cognitive shortcut plays a crucial role in social interactions and interpersonal judgments.Central Traits and Their InfluenceSolomon Asch's seminal 1946 study highlighted the power...
738
00:57Deindividuation
22.4K
Deindividuation is a form of social influence on an individual’s behavior such that the individual engages in unusual or non-normal behavior while in a group setting. Why? Because in these group settings, the individual no longer sees themselves as an individual anymore, disinhibiting their behavior and personal restraint.
22.4K
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
17.9K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
17.9K