Alcohol and Interpersonal Violence: Implications for Educators

Abstract

Violence is receiving increasing attention in communities and classrooms across the country. The contribution of alcohol to this phenomena is frequently acknowledged but rarely examined in detail. In many cases, this relationship between alcohol and interpersonal violence is described in ways which oversimplify the relationship and diminish the volitional nature of violent behavior. Alcohol consumption may influence feelings of aggression through variety of mechanisms including direct effects of the drug, responses to social norms and conventions and other aspects of one's environment, as well as interactions with personality characteristics. Whether a person takes action as a result of these aggressive feelings appears to be mediated primarily by alcohol expectancies and some acute effects on perception. Health education strategies should be employed to address the development of expectancies which diminish the relationship between alcohol and interpersonal violence. Strategies which emphasize personal responsibility can be an important tool in supporting an individual sense of accountability, even for those under the influence of alcohol.