Alcohol
Effects of Alcohol
Approximately 45% of college students binge drink two times a month on average (Crews & Boettinnzer, 2009). Of course, many people enjoy alcohol for its taste and/or because it can elevate one’s mood, increase sensations of warmthglow, and remove social inhibitions (Bushman & Cooper, 1990).
Also, the mere expectation of drinking can lead to decreased inhibitions (Hull & Bond, 1986). Still, some people drink to get drunk. Reasons why people drink to get drunk are varied (e.g., genetic versus social learning). The effects of drinking, however, remain the same.Alcohol negatively affects the brain in dramatic ways (for reviews, see Bushman & Cooper, 1990; Crews & Boettinnzer, 2009; Hull & Bond, 1986; Scaife & Duka, 2009). We consider effects on the brain and not other organs, such as the stomach, liver, etc. More specifically, alcohol negatively affects the frontal lobes that include the bisolateral prefrontal cortex (bPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the orbital frontal cortex (OFC). These three areas serve as “executive functions.” Executive functions in the frontal cortex allow you to do the following: attend to perceptions selectively, reason and make judgments, consider the consequences of your behavior, use delayed discounting (i.e., value longterm superior rewards more than short-term inferior rewards), inhibit impulsive behavior (e.g., scratching an itch), remember an idea, keep memories over time, and other important functions.
Experts define binge drinking as five drinks for men and four drinks for women within a two-hour frame, give or take other factors such as body mass. Over time, binge drinking brings about severe damage to our brain and other organs. Binge drinking increases neurodegeneration of the brain, damages the frontal cortex so the executive functions are compromised, disorganizes brain processes, shrinks the size of the brain, severely damages short-term memory, impedes motor skills (e.g., shaking, swaying when walking), and so forth.
Alcohol’s damage to the brain also includes less connection between the frontal cortex and the amygdala (the part of the brain that drives impulsive behaviors), so impulsive behaviors (e.g., scratching an itch) increase and dominate executive functions. So one is less likely to make good judgments and dismiss the negative consequences from drinking (sure I’ll have a hangover for my test, but who cares right now?). Greater control by the amygdala is why you might begin with an intention only to have a couple of drinks and then end up having several more.These mental and other negative effects (including personal appearance, damage to liver) can continue years after a person stops drinking (Crews & Boettin- nzer, 2009; Scaife & Duka, 2009). Moreover, continued use of alcohol indicates that you likely drink to get drunk, think a lot about drinking, crave alcohol, and behave impulsively to drink. Such behaviors, in concert with one’s family history, each lead to a diagnosis of alcoholism. Yet, people behaving these ways tend to deny anything is wrong with these behaviors. Chronic use of alcohol most likely indicates the person is suffering from alcoholism and needs help (e.g., from a hospital or health clinic that cares for alcohol and drug abuse, or AA). However, only the individual can admit that he or she suffers from this terrible disease.
Alcohol as a Conflict Instigator
Alcohol challenges the best people to maintain control of their conflict episodes. Alcohol directly and indirectly increases the possibility that someone will instigate a conflict. Directly, alcohol plays a role in escalating conflict from bad to worse (MacDonald, Zanna, & Holmes, 2000). Men’s and women’s alcohol use leads to increased likelihood of physical, psychological, and/or sexual abuse (e.g., Cunradi, Caetano, & Schafer, 2002; Thompson, Saltzman, & Johnson, 2003). Alcohol also produces mood swings and outbursts (Lubit & Russett, 1984). Alcohol diminishes your ability to read other people’s nonverbal signals and interpret messages accurately, which leads drinkers to behave irrationally (Zillman, 1990).
Indirectly, people often use alcohol to reduce anxiety or to increase a sense of power, either of which may prompt more assertive communication and aggressive behavior (Bushman & Cooper, 1990). Alcohol can indirectly instigate conflict when triggered by friends, a social group, or situation—such as a particular bar. Such links to alcohol and anticipation of drinking can diminish inhibitions and responsibility. Either directly or indirectly, alcohol use and aggression appear to be good friends.One’s ability to gain and maintain episodic control dramatically depends on the amount of alcohol one takes. Simply put, excessive alcohol dismantles the frontal cortex and its executive functions that control judgment, consider consequences, and limit impulsive thinking.
This research leads to:
Conclusion 4.1: Increases in alcohol use damages the brain’s ability to govern one’s behavior and maintain episodic control.
Suggestion 4.1: If intoxicated, avoid conflict entirely, because you have limited your ability to interpret events and communicate rationally.
Suggestion 4.2: Do not argue with a person who is drunk.