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The relationship between assertiveness, alcohol-related expectations for social assertion and drinking patterns among
1University of Idaho.
Addictive Behaviors
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Alcohol expectancies predict drinking behaviors, especially social assertion expectations for low assertive college students. High assertive students
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Alcohol-related expectancies are established predictors of diverse drinking behaviors.
- Rotter's social learning theory posits that reinforcement value enhances expectancy-based behavioral prediction.
- Understanding the interplay between assertiveness, alcohol expectancies, and drinking behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Rotter's social learning theory assertion regarding reinforcement value and expectancies.
- To compare the predictive ability of alcohol-related expectancies on alcohol consumption in low versus high assertive college students.
- To investigate if the expectation of alcohol facilitating social assertion predicts heavy drinking in low assertive individuals.
Main Methods:
- Survey research design.
- Participants: College students categorized as low or high in assertiveness.
- Measures: Self-reported alcohol consumption (typical quantity, maximum quantity, frequency) and alcohol-related expectancies, specifically the expectation that alcohol facilitates social assertion.
Main Results:
- For low assertive females, the expectation of social assertion significantly predicted typical quantity, maximum quantity, and frequency of alcohol consumption.
- For low assertive males, the expectation of social assertion predicted frequency of alcohol consumption.
- For both high assertive males and females, the expectation of enhanced social assertion did not predict drinking patterns.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the integration of reinforcement value (social assertion expectancies) into behavioral prediction models for specific subgroups.
- Alcohol's perceived role in facilitating social assertion is a key predictor of drinking for less assertive individuals.
- Assertiveness level moderates the relationship between social assertion expectancies and alcohol consumption.