Faculty Articles
Alcohol's Effects on Human Emotions: A Review of the Stimulation/Depression Hypothesis
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
International Journal of the Addictions
ISSN
0020-773X
Publication Date
1982
Abstract
Recent hypotheses hold that acute alcohol consumption sequentially stimulates and then depresses (stimulation/depression) the drinker's emotional state as well as other physiological and non-mood-related behavioral functions. This paper traces the development of the stimulation/depression hypothesis as applied to human emotions and critically evaluates investigations of alcohol's acute emotional effects in order to assess its validity. Although some evidence suggests an elatant (i.e., stimulant) effect of alcohol at moderate intoxication levels, particularly on the rising limb of the blood alcohol curve, it is concluded that because of methodological inadequacies in the relevant experimental literature, the stimulation/depression hypothesis as applied to emotions remains largely untested. Conceptual and methodological refinements necessary for testing the hypothesis are discussed, and potentially important nonpharmacological factors that may also influence postconsumption mood changes are identified.
DOI
10.3109/10826088209054615
Volume
17
Issue
1
First Page
155
Last Page
180
NSUWorks Citation
Tucker, J. A.,
Vuchinich, R. E.,
Sobell, M. B.
(1982). Alcohol's Effects on Human Emotions: A Review of the Stimulation/Depression Hypothesis. International Journal of the Addictions, 17(1), 155-180.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/727
