Citation

Giancola PR, Josephs RA, Dewall CN, Gunn RL. Subst. Use Misuse 2009; 44(9-10): 1263-1279.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0044, USA. giancola.uky@gmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10826080902960049

PMID

19938917

PMCID

PMC2784922

Abstract

The primary purpose of this article is to apply the attention-allocation model (AAM; Steele and Josephs, 1990 ) to the explanation, as well as the prevention, of alcohol-related violence. The AAM contends that alcohol has a "myopic" effect on attentional capacity that presumably facilitates aggression by narrowing attentional focus on the most salient provocative cues that are naturally present in hostile situations, rather than on less salient inhibitory cues. Data are presented to demonstrate support for the AAM with regard to alcohol-related aggression. The model has also been expanded to suggest some intermediary mechanisms that may account for how distracting attention away from provocative cues might be involved in the reduction of aggression. Finally, a number of practical suggestions are put forth regarding how the AAM can be applied to the prevention of intoxicated aggression.

Language: en