TY - JOUR

T1 - Alcohol Breeds Empty Goal Commitments

AU - Sevincer, A. Timur

AU - Oettingen, Gabriele

PY - 2009/8

Y1 - 2009/8

N2 - According to alcohol-myopia theory (C.M. Steele & R.A. Josephs, 1990), alcohol leads individuals to disproportionally focus on the most salient aspects of a situation and to ignore peripheral information. The authors hypothesized that alcohol leads individuals to strongly commit to their goals without considering information about the probability of goal attainment. In Study 1, participants named their most important interpersonal goal, indicated their expectations of successfully attaining it, and then consumed either alcohol or a placebo. In contrast to participants who consumed a placebo, intoxicated participants felt strongly committed to their goals despite low expectations of attaining them. In Study 2, goal-directed actions were measured over time. Once sober again, intoxicated participants with low expectations did not follow up on their strong commitments. Apparently, when prospects are bleak, alcohol produces empty goal commitments, as commitments are not based on individuals' expectations of attaining their goals and do not foster goal striving over time.

AB - According to alcohol-myopia theory (C.M. Steele & R.A. Josephs, 1990), alcohol leads individuals to disproportionally focus on the most salient aspects of a situation and to ignore peripheral information. The authors hypothesized that alcohol leads individuals to strongly commit to their goals without considering information about the probability of goal attainment. In Study 1, participants named their most important interpersonal goal, indicated their expectations of successfully attaining it, and then consumed either alcohol or a placebo. In contrast to participants who consumed a placebo, intoxicated participants felt strongly committed to their goals despite low expectations of attaining them. In Study 2, goal-directed actions were measured over time. Once sober again, intoxicated participants with low expectations did not follow up on their strong commitments. Apparently, when prospects are bleak, alcohol produces empty goal commitments, as commitments are not based on individuals' expectations of attaining their goals and do not foster goal striving over time.

KW - alcohol

KW - expectations

KW - goal commitment

KW - goal striving

KW - placebo

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68949184876&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/d3dd878c-1441-3b68-8c98-5f20bd5d392b/

U2 - 10.1037/a0016199

DO - 10.1037/a0016199

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:68949184876

VL - 118

SP - 623

EP - 633

JO - Journal of Abnormal Psychology

JF - Journal of Abnormal Psychology

SN - 0021-843X

IS - 3

ER -