EXPERIMENTAL MOOD INDUCTIONS IN PERSONS AT HIGH AND LOW RISK FOR ALCOHOL PROBLEMS

Abstract

High-risk and low-risk participants (defined on the basisof presence or absence of family history of alcohol problems) were comparedon reactions to positive and negative mood inductions and a nonalcoholic beertaste test that followed. After the negative induction, high-risk participantsexperienced negative affect more intensely than low-risk participants. Inthe taste test, high-risk participants drank more nonalcoholic beer than low-riskparticipants. The results imply that high-risk participants, compared withlow-risk participants, (a) are more reactiveto negative emotion-arousing stimuli and (b)are more strongly motivated to drink alcohol in negative emotion-arousingsituations.