Drunk or sober? Learned conformity to a behavioral standard

This research tested the hypothesis that behavioral standards in a drinking situation are learned.

Two groups of male social drinkers (N = 12) were reinforced with verbal feedback (FB) for matching either a "sober" (S) or an "intoxicated" (I) behavioral standard under repeated doses (0.62 g/kg) of alcohol. The criterion measure was time to perform a trial on a psychomotor tracking task. A fast, efficient time (115 seconds) defined the S standard. A slow, inefficient time (150 seconds) defined the I standard. The behavioral effect of standards was tested during a final FB training session under alcohol, and during retention under a placebo and under alcohol, with FB absent.

S and I groups approximated their respective standards when reinforced, and these standards were retained when reinforcement was subsequently withheld. Under placebo, group S displayed sober performance comparable to their drug-free baseline, whereas Group I's performance was significantly impaired. These group differences remained significant under alcohol, and the drug effect impaired each group's performance to a similar degree.

Prior reinforcement of a standard under alcohol can lead to the display of that standard when alcohol is expected or received. The consistent difference in the groups' performance under placebo and under alcohol suggests that learned standards may add an effect on behavior in a drinking situation that is distinct from the drug effect. Retention of group standards under alcohol in the absence of reinforcement confirms that these standards were learned and were not simply a response to situational demand.