Rethinking the role of interpersonal influence processes in alcohol intervention situations

Abstract

In a review of the literature on personal intervention practices in adult alcoholism contexts (termed the home treatment method), Thomas and Seibold (1993) identified several points of overlap between this research and traditional interpersonal influence studies. Our aim in this paper is to extend that analysis to studying alcohol intervention processes in the college environment from an interpersonal influence perspective. We attempt this, first, by reviewing literature on the extent of the alcohol use/abuse problem in the college environment. Second, we demonstrate the importance of interpersonal influence processes to the alcohol intervention context and critically review the current state of research dealing with intervention strategies used in the college environment. Finally, following discussion of the conceptual and methodological concerns associated with research in the alcohol intervention area, we offer a reconceptualization of interpersonal influence processes in college students’ alcohol intervention situations and outline research implications in the areas of avoidance, message taxonomies, multiple goals, target responses, and influence outcomes.