Peter R. Giancola

The relation between alcohol and aggression: An integrated biopsychosocial conceptualization

The relation between acute alcohol consumption and aggressive behavior is a complex phenomenon that has been studied from a variety of different disciplines. This article reviews findings from both survey and experimental research. The influence of both situational and individual difference variables on the alcohol-aggression relation is discussed and the strengths and weaknesses of various methodological approaches are highlighted. Current theoretical perspectives of the alcohol-aggression relation are reviewed. An integrated heuristic framework of the alcohol-aggression relation also is outlined. This conceptualization involves both distal and proximal risk factors for problems with alcohol and violence, which include biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual influences. Research and treatment implications of this framework are also discussed. It is recommended that researchers attempt to measure variables from a variety of domains in order to obtain a better understanding of this complex phenomenon. Furthermore, it is emphasized that there is a clear need to further implement and assess primary and secondary prevention efforts and to design integrated and flexible approaches for individuals with alcohol and violence problems.

Construct validity of laboratory aggression paradigms: A response to tedeschi and quigley (1996)

Abstract The purpose of this article is to present a response to a paper recently published in this journal by Tedeschi and Quigley (1996) in which the authors criticized the validity of laboratory aggression paradigms. Tedeschi and Quigley debated the construct validity of the teacher/learner paradigm, essay evaluation procedures, the bobo doll modeling paradigm, and the competitive reaction time paradigm (which will be referred to herein as the Taylor Aggression Paradigm; TAP). The present article will focus primarily on the TAP, its modified versions, and the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP). Although it is one of the two most frequently employed laboratory measures of aggression, the PSAP was not discussed by Tedeschi and Quigley. These authors stated that laboratory aggression paradigms “under-represent the construct of aggression because they deal only with situations of retaliation which have been sanctioned by a third party legitimate authority (the experimenter) and because research participants are given no choice other than physical forms of harm-doing as a means of responding to attacks” (p. 163). It is our intent to rebut this and other criticisms that Tedeschi and Quigley have marshaled against laboratory aggression paradigms. The present article will provide a brief definition of construct validity, the manner in which it is assessed, and a description of pertinent laboratory measures of aggression. This will be followed by a delineation of our responses to Tedeschi and Quigley’s criticisms and a comprehensive review of studies that have directly and indirectly contributed to the construct validity of laboratory aggression paradigms.

Salivary cortisol, personality, and aggressive behavior in adolescent boys: a 5-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVEnThe present investigation tested the hypothesis that low resting salivary cortisol concentration in preadolescent boys would be associated with aggressive behavior later in adolescence. Second, it tested whether personality traits would mediate this relation.nnnMETHODnResting salivary cortisol concentrations from 314 boys (10-12 years of age) were assayed. When the boys reached 15 to 17 years of age these concentrations were analyzed in the context of personality traits, measured with the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, and aggressive behavior, measured with the Youth Self-Report inventory.nnnRESULTSnLow cortisol in preadolescence was associated with low harm avoidance, low self-control, and more aggressive behavior 5 years later, during middle adolescence. Cortisol was not related to negative emotionality or any of its factors (including trait aggression). Low self-control was identified as the primary personality mediator of the relation between low cortisol and later aggressive behavior.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn adolescent boys, low resting cortisol concentrations appear predictive of clinically important personality factors. Increased aggressive behavior in adolescents with low resting cortisol may be more strongly associated with lack of self-control than with a specifically aggressive personality.

Substance use and risky sexual behavior in female adolescents

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the etiological pathways towards substance use and risky sexual behavior in female adolescent substance abusers. The study had three aims: (1) to determine the relations between behavioral dysregulation, negative affectivity, and childhood victimization with substance use and risky sexual behavior, (2) to determine whether these relations are mediated by internalizing symptomatology, antisocial behavior, and affiliating with an adult boyfriend; and (3) to determine whether age of menarche moderates the relation between the mediating variables and substance use and risky sexual behavior. Multiple behavioral, psychiatric interview, and self-report measures were used to index behavioral dysregulation, negative affectivity, childhood victimization, internalizing symptomatology, antisocial behavior, affiliation with adult boyfriends, substance use, and risky sexual behavior in 125 substance abusing female adolescents and 78 controls between the ages of 14-18 years. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the etiological pathways. Results indicated that behavioral dysregulation, negative affectivity, and childhood victimization were related to substance use and risky sexual behavior. Age of menarche was significantly correlated with affiliation with an older boyfriend and risky sexual behavior. Antisocial behavior mediated the associations between behavioral dysregulation, negative affectivity and childhood victimization with substance use and risky sexual behavior. Affiliation with an adult boyfriend was directly associated with substance use involvement and accounted for the relationship between chronological age and risky sexual behavior. Finally, late menarche enhanced the association between internalizing symptomatology and substance use involvement. The results highlight the importance of behavioral dysregulation, negative affectivity, and childhood victimization in predicting substance use and risky sexual behavior, as well as the finding that antisocial behavior and affiliation with an adult boyfriend may be etiologically important in predicting these outcomes. Therefore, from a prevention and treatment standpoint, behavioral and affective dysregulation, childhood victimization as well as antisocial behavior may serve as clinical gateways for altering the developmental trajectory toward substance use and risky sexual behavior in high risk and substance abusing youth. For example, reducing dysregulation through behavior modification procedures that have been developed for conduct disordered children would appear to be a heuristic avenue of investigation emanating from the results obtained in this study.

Evidence for dorsolateral and orbital prefrontal cortical involvement in the expression of aggressive behavior

Numerous studies have implicated the role of the prefrontal cortex in the expression of aggressive behavior, However, the nature of this relationship remains poorly understood. As such, the purpose of this article is to review both the animal and human literature pertaining to prefrontal cortical functioning and aggression in an attempt to help clarify this relationship. Particular attention is paid to differentiating the functions of the dorsolateral and the orbital regions of the prefrontal cortex in the expression of aggression. Evidence was garnered from four different types of studies: 1) those examining aggressive behavior in animals following ablations to the prefrontal cortex; 2) those examining aggressive behavior in humans following surgical and accidental lesions to the prefrontal cortex; 3) those examining prefrontal cortical functioning in individuals with psychiatric disorders characterized by aggression; and 4) those relating prefrontal cortical functioning to human aggressive behavior in laboratory situations. The general conclusion of this article is that the dorsolateral region of the prefrontal cortex is more likely to be involved in the expression of physical aggression whereas the orbital region is more likely to be involved in the expression of what is termed herein disinhibited-nonaggressive behavior.

The biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression

The authors assessed the biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression. Sixty male social drinkers were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: alcohol ascending limb (AAL), alcohol descending limb (ADL), or 1 of 2 sober control groups. Aggression was assessed in the AAL and ADL groups at respective ascending or descending blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.08%. Each participant in the control groups was respectively yoked with a participant in either the AAL or the ADL group to control for the longer period of time needed to reach a BAC of 0.08% on the descending limb compared with the ascending limb (i.e., passage of time effect). The authors measured aggression using a modified version of the Taylor aggression paradigm (S. Taylor, 1967), in which electric shocks are received from and administered to a fictitious opponent during a competitive task. The AAL group was more aggressive than the ADL groups. There were no differences between the ADL group and the control groups, which suggests that alcohol does not appear to increase aggression on the descending limb. The control groups did not differ in aggression, thus ruling out a passage of time effect.

Executive Cognitive Functioning in Alcohol Use Disorders

Executive cognitive functioning (ECF) has been identified as an important determinant in the etiology of alcoholism. ECF represents a higher-order cognitive construct involved in the self-regulation of goal-directed behavior. The prefrontal cortex and its subcortical connections represent the primary neurological substrate that subserves ECF. Both alcoholics and individuals at high risk for alcoholism exhibit a mild dysfunction in ECF. However, this deficit appears to be significantly stronger in alcoholics with a comorbid diagnosis of an antisocial personality disorder. Individuals with other disorders that are also highly comorbid with alcoholism, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder, also demonstrate deficits in ECF. As such, compromised ECF may not be specific to alcoholism, but instead, might be a potential underlying etiologic substrate for a number of disorders of behavioral excess-disinhibition. Subsequent to reviewing the literature implicating ECF deficits in alcoholism and comorbid disorders, the authors present a heuristic cognitive-neurobehavioral model of alcoholism implicating the frontostriatal system. Finally, recommendations for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, based on this model, are discussed.

Cognitive distortions, aggressive behavior, and drug use in adolescent boys with and without a family history of a substance use disorder

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the relations between (a) cognitive distortions and aggressive behavior, (b) cognitive distortions and drug use, and (c) aggressive behavior and drug use are moderated by a family history of a substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescent boys. Participants were 165 boys aged 15-17 years with (FH+; n = 75) and without (FH-; n = 90) a family history of SUD. Results indicated that a family history of SUD moderated the relation between cognitive distortions and aggressive behavior and the relation between aggressive behavior and drug use. Family history of SUD did not moderate the relation between cognitive distortions and drug use; however, cognitive distortions were positively related to drug use within both groups.

Adolescent Females with a Substance Use Disorder: Affiliations with Adult Male Sexual Partners

OBJECTIVEnTo test the hypothesis that low socioeconomic status (SES), a disturbed parent-daughter relationship, early sexual development, and antisocial behavior are risk factors in adolescent females affiliating with adult male sexual partners. To determine whether the relation between these risk factors and affiliating with adult male sexual partners is stronger in females with greater, rather than fewer, substance use disorders (SUD).nnnMETHODnSubjects were 180 adolescent females with SUD and 87 normal controls (14-18 years of age).nnnRESULTSnThe SUD group had a lower SES and more negative parent-daughter interactions, and exhibited greater antisocial tendencies. Also, the SUD group showed a more frequent affiliation with adult male sexual partners. Chronological age, age of menarche (sexual development), antisocial behavior, and quality of the parent-daughter relationship were significantly associated with affiliation with adult male sexual partners. Moreover, the number of SUD diagnoses enhanced the relation between the quality of the parent-daughter relationship and antisocial behavior with affiliation with adult male sexual partners.nnnCONCLUSIONSnFrom a prevention perspective, interventions directed at enhancing child rearing practices, communication skills, and involvement in childrens needs and activities might result in improved parent-child attachments that may attentuate young womens propensities to become involved in antisocial behavior and affiliate with adult sexual partners. Also, the risk imposed by an early sexual maturation may be offset by enhancing the female adolescents social skills to select non-deviant and supportive male partners.