Aggressive and Nonaggressive Behavior as a Function of Alcohol Intoxication and Frustration in Women

An experiment tested whether alcohol increases aggression in women in a situation in which both an aggressive and a nonaggressive response alternative of equal instrumentality and of equal variability are available. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups, namely, an alcohol, a placebo, or a control group. The alcohol dose was 1.0 ml of pure alcohol/kg body weight. After drinking their respective drink, subjects were instructed to supervise a bogus partner on a visual scan test over a series of trials. Each time this partner made a mistake, subjects could either give an uncomfortable electric shock (scale 1 to 10) or a comfortable vibration (scale 1 to 10) to the partner. Aggressive and nonaggressive behavior was measured as numbers, intensities, and durations of shocks or vibrations, respectively. Neither alcohol nor frustration differentiated the groups on aggressive or nonaggressive behavior. All groups were significantly more inclined to use the nonaggressive alternative irrespective of alcohol dose and level of frustration. In conclusion it was stated that women do not increase their aggression as a function of alcohol in a situation with more than one response alternative available. The need to incorporate gender differences as to aggressive effects of alcohol was stressed.