Alcohol fuelled violence is it really the alcohol?
Assessing dimensions of psychopathy as differential risk factors for alcohol-related aggression
It is well known that interpersonal aggression is related to alcohol consumption. Correlational studies have identified that alcohol is present in about 50% of homicides, sexual assaults and other violent crimes. These studies also proposed that the largest impact on aggressive behavior is seen through the acute effects of alcohol, rather than its chronic effects. In similar laboratory-based studies in which participants have the opportunity to aggress against a fictitious opponent under the guise of a competitive task, have clearly demonstrated that persons who receive a placebo or a
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Dispositional aggressivity and affective, behavioural, cognitive and dispositional anger were all examined by Giancola et al. (2012) and found that these traits make up a unitary variable. Alcohol was shown more likely to increase aggression in persons with higher, compared with lower, aggressive personality scores. This was moderated through the aggressive personality variable.
Through empirical and theoretical identification of two extensive factors of psychopathy just mentioned, one related to interpersonal dominance and the ability to stay calm and tolerate distress and the other related to disinhibition and the risk for externalizing behavior. Research has shown that disinhibition has been associated with aggression and violence risk, whereas interpersonal dominance has not. Cima and Raine 2009 through looking at a sample of prison inmates found that whilst measuring the disinhibition factor, measured through impulsive antisociality there was a correlation of r = .57 (p< .01) with reactive aggression and .60 (p < 0.1) with proactive aggression. There was no correlation seen through boldness and fear-less dominance factors with reactive aggression.
In a study done by edens et al. (2008) it was several markers of misconduct were found to be related to impulsive antisociality, including aggressive misconduct, but not fearless dominance in prison inmates. Edens and mcdermott (2010) discovered that
For example, after drinking alcohol, men expect to feel more powerful and aggressive (Stanford University, 1999). This increases their expectancy of certain outcomes, especially in sexual situations. Thus, drinking alcohol may cause men to misinterpret a woman's behavior as a sign of her desire to have sex with him. On the other hand, when a woman consumes alcohol, it can cause her to ignore or miss a cue that an assault is possible or likely to happen (Antonia, 1991). Alcohol can also keep a woman from realizing that her friendly behavior is being misperceived as seduction. Studies have shown that intoxicated and sober men are inclined to misperceive friendliness as a sign of sexual interest, so this is a great danger to women (Stanford University, 1999). Alcohol consumption can also decrease the likelihood that a woman can successfully resist an assault, verbally or physically. Additionally, women become intoxicated faster than men. This occurs for two reasons: women generally weigh less and have less water in their bodies than men, so the alcohol is less diluted and has a greater impact on their bodies. (Stanford University, 1999). Women do not metabolize alcohol as efficiently as men, which makes them more vulnerable to the consequences of drinking.
(Juhnke et. Al., 1999) Although substance abuse does not cause students to be violent, students under the influence of psychoactive substances often fail to think logically and experience increased impulsivity. Therefore a strong correlation exists between substance abuse and violent behavior. Undoubtedly, all these risk factors by themselves will not identify every violent student. However, the risk factors can be used as an aid in assessing students at risk of violence behavior.
This assignment will define alcohol and crime and discover whether there is a strong link between the use of alcohol and crime. Findings and statistics will also be used to present the Information. Laws and legislations put in place about the consumption of alcohol will also be presented including the pros and cons of alcohol along with a conclusion of my thoughts and beliefs in relation to the link between alcohol and crime. "Alcohol reduces our ability to think straight," says Professor McMurran, a psychologist at the University of Nottingham."It narrows our focus of attention and gives us tunnel vision."If someone provokes us while we're drunk, we don't take other factors into account, such as the consequences of rising to the bait.
Martens, W. H. (2000). Antisocial and psychopathic Personality Disorders: Causes, Course, and Remission- A Review Artical. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminolgy , 44(4), 406-430.
There are several sources that have recognized a two-way association between alcohol consumption and violent or aggressive behavior. Not only may alcohol consumption promote aggressiveness, but victimization may lead to excessive alcohol consumption. Violence may be defined as behavior that intentionally inflicts, or attempts to inflict, physical harm. Violence falls within the broader category of aggression, which also includes behaviors that are threatening, hostile, or damaging in a nonphysical way.
Aggression is a natural part of human behavior, and can even be adaptive in certain situations. However, when aggression manifests itself in violent behaviors, it becomes problematic. Patterns of aggression change throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, and these changes usually differ between males and females (Loeber, 1997). Physical aggression is typically greatest early in life and decreases during adolescence, whereas more serious violence tends to increase with age, particularly during adolescence (Loeber, 1997). Despite the changes that occur in aggressive tendencies throughout childhood and adolescence, aggression is seen as a very stable trait, almost as stable as
If given adequate funds to perform research in this area, I would like to expand upon this research. I would use more of the population, older and younger men. I would pull from prisoners and those known to have aggression, anger issues and those known not to have issues. I would expand the independent variables to include using violent and non-violent video games, watching violent and non-violent movie clips, handling machine guns, unloaded of course, a baseball bat or maybe a machete. Some un-inhibiting items such as a stuffed animal, a Bible, or interacting with a child with a game. The saliva tests before and after the interactions are adequate and reliable. I would have the subjects also undergo a baseline blood pressure and heart rate check before and repeat that after the interaction. Also, answer a few questions before and after and perform a physical aggression test to determine their aggression levels.
behaviors. Longitudinal studies have proved dissimilarities between violent and non-violent behavior whereby aggressive and violent behavior were more stable.
A test was conducted to analyze the connections between alcohol and aggression. Considering that alcohol contributes to at least, if not half of murders and assaults, ergo focusing the results of this test for the public. In this test there were two groups, the control group and the alcohol group and one drank orange juice while the other had approximately two glasses of alcohol reaching 0.08% blood alcohol concentration. The participants were told that they were going to compete against each other on a reaction time task.They were
Introduction The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast the constructs of psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder. The aim is to highlight whether the terms psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder reflect the same construct or whether they differ. Furthermore, recommendations for treatment of criminal behavior will be explored. For the purposes of this evaluation some definitions need to be highlighted: Criminal offence is an act that breaks a law, which relates how to behave in society. The harm caused by the act is seen to be against society as a whole, not just a specific person. Sometimes it refers to the specific law that was broken (Herring, 2009). Crime is the breach of rules or law for which some authority
In today's modern society alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse has become one of the most complex, life-threatening issues. Most depressed individuals usually indulge themselves in bars or pubs with their alcohols to escape from their stressful life. It has become increasingly alarming how alcohol does not only attract the adults, but also teenagers these days. "Research has shown that approximately 14 million Americans (7.4%) of the population meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism" ("Facts about Alcohol"). Alcohol addicts may encounter social impact such as loss of respect from others who may see the problem as self- inflictive and easily avoided. Repeated use of alcohol over a period of time can result in
Alcohol is a drug that is classified as a central nervous system depressant. There are three forms of alcohol, beer, wine and distilled spirits. Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States and has more adverse effects that most other drugs combined. There are many aspects to consider when thinking about alcohol as a drug. There are many myths surrounding alcohol, including who uses it, what its effects are on users, social and sexual situations and the amounts people drink. The vast majority of the American population uses alcohol and in many various ways and this also causes different effects. Alcohol is also has a great causation in crimes committed by users, social, medical, and educational problems as a
Physical assault and aggression is the second leading cause of death among 14 to 17 year olds, next to vehicular accidents (Loeber). But why are humans so aggressive in the first place? There are two sides of the debate: Nature, and Nurture. Some say that it’s human nature, genetics that cause most behaviors, while others say that we act as we learned during childhood. This argument applies to aggression as well. Aggression is mainly caused by things during childhood and adolescence where people learn from various sources about aggression, although, human psychology plays a slight factor.
The Anatomy of Violence presents the latest findings in the field of biological psychology and human behavior, focusing on brain chemistry, as it relates to human behavior, and offers great insight on how brains of those who commit acts of violence or crime differ from those who do not. Mr. Raine provides solid scientific data regarding the ways in which brain chemistry differs and how injuries can alter personality using medical MRI and fMRI and various neurotransmitter studies. A clear connection between human biology and behavior emerges, bringing
There are clearly no simple genetic or hormonal factors that can explain the variation in aggressive in males and females. Studies of human males suggest that there is at most a small genetic component to aggression, but a greater one for personality traits associated with such behavior. The biological mechanisms translating the message in the genes into antisocial or criminal behavior are not known. Therefore, there is clearly no simple aggressive gene effect. Many genes are likely to be involved, and each may have a weak effect on aggressive behavior. A direct genetic effect on aggression, for example, may determine how quickly an individual responds to aggravation. Aggression may also be influenced indirectly; for example, a man's size and strength may affect the way he behaves and how others react to him. (Turner, 253)