Alcohol myopia and condom use: can alcohol intoxication be associated with more prudent behavior?

• Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology Vol. 78; no. 4; p. 605
• Main Authors: MacDonald, T K, Fong, G T, Zanna, M P, Martineau, A M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology; Condoms; Cues; Female; Humans; Inhibition (Psychology); Male; Models, Psychological; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - psychology
• ISSN: 0022-3514
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.78.4.605

We tested 2 competing theories about the effects of alcohol on intentions to engage in risky behavior. Disinhibition predicts that intoxicated people will exhibit risky behavior regardless of environmental cues, whereas alcohol myopia (C. M. Steele & R. A. Josephs, 1990) predicts that intoxicated people will be more or less likely to exhibit risky behavior, depending on the cues provided. In 4 studies, we found an interaction between intoxication and cue type. When impelling cues were present, intoxicated people reported greater intentions to have unprotected sex than did sober people. When subtle inhibiting cues were present, intoxicated and sober people reported equally cautious intentions (Studies 1-3). When strong inhibiting cues were present, intoxicated people reported more prudent intentions than did sober people (Study 4). We suggest that alcohol myopia provides a more comprehensive account of the effects of alcohol than does disinhibition.