An information processing analysis of the effects of alcohol on perceptions of facial emotions

Working from an information-processing conceptual framework, this experiment investigated the effects of alcohol, expectancy, and sex of subject on normal drinkers' perceptions of facial emotions. In a 2- x -2 factorial design, 24 males and 24 females were given either an alcoholic (0.50 g/kg body weight) or a nonalcoholic beverage and instructed that they were receiving either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage. The main dependent measure was subjects' ratings of affect contained in facial expressions. The hypothesis that alcohol consumption would impair affect perceptions received some support. Interaction effects also showed that greater alcohol-induced deficits occurred when subjects believed they had consumed alcohol and that the instructional variable differentially influenced the responses of males and females. With qualifications, these data suggest the utility of an information processing analysis of cognitive functions relevant to the social behavioral effects of alcohol consumption.