The Alcohol-Aggression Stereotype: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Beliefs

Abstract

University students (N = 1,008) in eight countries participated in a survey aimed at mapping cross-cultural alcohol expectancies. Multisample structured means analysis was applied to compare changes in aggressive behaviors believed to occur in connection with drinking after “many” alcoholic drinks. Most subjects expressed the belief that intoxication was associated with greater aggressiveness, but there were significant national differences unrelated to self-reported alcoholic beverage preference, frequency of drinking to intoxication, or rates of personal involvement in episodes of alcohol-related aggression. Thus, me expectation that drinking leads to aggression may be determined to a significant extent by contextual factors and cultural traditions related to alcohol use.

Key Words:

• Aggression
• Alcohol
• Cultural factors
• Expectancies
• Latent structure analysis