Rachel P. Winograd

Searching for Mr. Hyde: A five-factor approach to characterizing “types of drunks”

Abstract Some individuals “change” more dramatically than others when intoxicated, and the nature and magnitude of these changes can result in harmful outcomes. This study utilized reports (N = 374) of participants’ “typical” five-factor model (FFM) characteristics across sober and intoxicated states and assessed the degree to which these reports could be grouped into meaningful clusters, as well as the association of cluster membership with negative alcohol-related consequences. Results from finite mixture model clustering revealed a four cluster solution. Cluster 1, “Hemingway,” was the largest and defined by intoxication-related decreases in Conscientiousness and Intellect that were below average; Cluster 2, “Mary Poppins,” was defined by being high in Agreeableness when sober, decreasing less than average in Conscientiousness and Intellect and increasing more than average in Extraversion when drunk; Cluster 3, “Mr. Hyde,” reported larger drunk decreases in Conscientiousness and Intellect and smaller increases in Extraversion; Cluster 4, “The Nutty Professor,” was defined by being low in Extraversion when sober, increasing more than average in Extraversion and decreasing less than average in Conscientiousness when drunk. Cluster membership was associated with experiencing more alcohol consequences. These results support use of the FFM to characterize clinically meaningful subgroups of sober-to-drunk differences in trait expression.

The Balance Between Providing Support, Prolonging Suffering, and Promoting Death: Ethical Issues Surrounding Psychological Treatment of a Terminally Ill Client

A psychologist with a client who is terminally ill and wishes to discuss end-of-life options, specifically the option of hastening death, is faced with an ethical dilemma as to how to proceed with treatment. Specifically, he or she is bound by the American Psychological Associations (2002) potentially conflicting Principles A and E, which advise a psychologist to “do no harm” as well as “respect … self-determination.” In addition, Standard 4 (Privacy and Confidentiality) mandates that a clients personal information is to remain private, unless that client could be in danger of harming himself or herself or others. This article discusses such a nuanced case and provides considerations as well as guidelines for psychologists to effectively navigate through this sensitive and important dilemma.

An Experimental Investigation of Drunk Personality Using Self and Observer Reports

Across various cultures there are robust stereotypes regarding how alcohol intoxication alters individuals’ normative personalities. However, whether these stereotypes are rooted in genuine average effects or in salient, socially proliferated exemplars remains unclear. The current study tested if differences between sober and intoxicated personality expression can be observed reliably by trained raters during a drinking episode. Participants (N = 156), half of whom received alcohol, attended laboratory sessions in same-gender friend groups and engaged in activities designed to elicit a range of personality expression. Participants completed self-reports of their “typical” sober and drunk personalities 2 weeks prior to their sessions and via two short measures during the session. In addition, participants were recorded and rated by multiple (range = 5–17) trained raters using three personality measures. Self-perceptions of sober-to-drunk personality differences were more pervasive than observer-perceptions, but alcohol-induced changes in Extraversion, specifically, were robust across measures and reporters.

Alcohol: Psychosocial Effects

Alcohol use has significant effects on behavior; these can be both acute (e.g., drunken comportment) and chronic (e.g., alcohol-induced depression). However, it is well established that there are large, individual differences in how drinkers react to alcohol. Additionally, different types of drinking contexts tend to elicit different effects and are associated with different harms. Consequently, characterizing the effects of alcohol consumption requires an understanding of the drinker and the drinking context, in addition to the drink (i.e., beverage alcohol) itself.