ALCOHOL AND HUMAN EMOTION - A MULTIDIMENSIONAL-ANALYSIS INCORPORATINGSTARTLE-PROBE METHODOLOGY

The effect of alcohol intoxication on emotional response was investiga ted using a model of emotion that includes both arousal and valence di mensions. Thirty-six university students were exposed to multiple pres entations of photographic slides selected to elicit distinctive emotio nal reactions ranging from very pleasant to very unpleasant; half of t hem received a moderate (approximately .75 ml/kg) dose of ethanol. The students' psychophysiological responses indicated that both general s tartle reactivity and autonomic indices specific to emotional arousal were diminished by alcohol. However, the affective modulation of start le, occuring with emotional states manipulated by slides with distinct valences, remained intact. These findings suggest that ''stress-respo nse dampening'' by alcohol may involve a nonspecific attenuation of ar ousal reactions evident for positive as well as negative stimuli and t hat theories of motivation for drinking that are based on mood alterat ion may need refinement.