Alcohol, Violence and Aggression
This web page discusses the association between alcohol
consumption, and violence and aggression. Understanding the nature of
these associations is essential to breaking the cycle of alcohol misuse
and violence.
Scientists and nonscientists alike have long recognized a two-way
association between alcohol consumption and violent or aggressive
behavior.
Not only may alcohol consumption promote aggressiveness, but
victimization may lead to excessive alcohol consumption.
Violence may be defined as behavior that intentionally inflicts, or
attempts to inflict, physical harm. Violence falls within the broader
category of aggression, which also includes behaviors that are
threatening, hostile, or damaging in a nonphysical way.
Extent of the Alcohol-Violence Association
Based on published studies, the percentages of violent offenders who
were drinking at the time of the offense are as follows:
- up to 86 percent of homicide offenders
- 37 percent of assault offenders
- up to 60 percent of sexual offenders
- 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women involved in marital
violence
- 13 percent of child abusers.
These figures are the upper limits of a wide range of estimates. In
another community-based study, 42 percent of violent crimes reported to
the police involved alcohol, although 51 percent of the victims
interviewed believed that their assailants had been drinking.
Aggressive Alcohol Behavior May Be "Learned"
Alcohol consumption may promote aggression because people expect it
to. For example, research using real and mock alcoholic beverages shows
that people who believe they have consumed alcohol begin to act more
aggressively, regardless of which beverage they actually consumed.
Alcohol-related expectancies that promote male aggressiveness, combined
with the widespread perception of intoxicated women as sexually
receptive and less able to defend themselves, could account for the
association between drinking and date rape.
In addition, a person who intends to engage in a violent act may
drink to bolster his or her courage or in hopes of evading punishment or
censure. The motive of drinking to avoid censure is encouraged by the
popular view of intoxication as a "time-out," during which one
is not subject to the same rules of conduct as when sober.
Click here for a full and
complete description of how the Narconon Arrowhead alcohol addiction
rehabilitation program works!
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