Alcohol-induced stimulation and sedation: Relation to physical aggression

The relation between the stimulating and the sedating effects of acute alco hol consumption on human physical aggression was examined. Sixty male socia l drinkers were assigned to either an alcohol or a sober group. Aggression was measured using a modified version of S. Taylor's (1967) aggression para digm, in which electric shocks are received from and administered to a fict itious opponent during a competitive task. Aggression was operationalized a s the intensity and the duration of the shocks selected. Stimulation and se dation were measured using a self-report inventory. Results demonstrated th at stimulation was positively related to aggression, but only in the intoxi cated state. Sedation was not related to aggression in either the intoxicat ed or the sober state.