PERSONALITY RISK FOR ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL EXPECTANCIES

Studies of the association between risk for alcoholism and alcohol exp ectancies reveal contradictory results. The link between risk and expe ctancies may vary with the type of expectancy and the limb of the bloo d alcohol curve. The current study examined the relation between perso nality risk for alcoholism (as measured by the MacAndrew scale) and an ticipated stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol. Even when sex and drinking habits were controlled, subjects at higher risk expected few er of the aversive, sedative effects of alcohol on both the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve. Risk and positive, st imulant effects were orthogonal. These data suggest that high- and low -risk individuals may anticipate experiencing an equal intensity of al cohol's positive effects, but high-risk individuals anticipate negativ e effects that are less severe. The potential role of these risk-relat ed expectancies in the development of problem drinking is discussed.