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Hyperbolic temporal discounting in social drinkers and problem drinkers
1Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA. vuchire@mail.auburn.edu
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
|September 2, 1998
Summary
Heavy and problem drinkers exhibit greater temporal discounting of monetary value compared to light drinkers. This behavior is best described by a hyperbolic, not exponential, function, aligning with addiction theories.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Addiction Science
- Psychology
Background:
- Understanding intertemporal choice is crucial for explaining decision-making in addiction.
- Alcohol consumption patterns are linked to individual differences in valuing delayed rewards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare temporal discounting in individuals with varying levels of alcohol consumption.
- To determine the functional form that best describes temporal discounting in drinkers.
- To explore the relationship between discounting, impulsivity, and time orientation.
Main Methods:
- Two studies compared heavy/problem drinkers with light social drinkers on delayed monetary reward valuation.
- Participants' temporal discounting was modeled using hyperbolic and exponential functions.
- Standardized questionnaires assessed impulsivity and time orientation.
Main Results:
- Heavy and problem drinkers demonstrated significantly greater temporal discounting than light drinkers.
- A hyperbolic function provided a superior fit for temporal discounting across all groups.
- Differences in discounting were more pronounced in problem drinkers compared to heavy social drinkers.
- While drinker groups differed on impulsivity and time orientation, these traits did not strongly correlate with temporal discounting.
Conclusions:
- Temporal discounting differences support extending behavioral economic theories to understand alcohol consumption.
- The hyperbolic discounting model aligns with addiction theories but diverges from traditional economic models.
- Impulsivity and time orientation may play a role, but temporal discounting is a distinct behavioral economic measure relevant to alcohol use.
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