Sayette Michael A
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 3137 Sennott Square, 210 S. Bouquet St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.
Behav Res Ther. 2017 Jan;88:76-89. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.005.
Understanding why people drink alcohol and in some cases develop drinking problems has long puzzled researchers, clinicians, and patients alike. In the mid-1940s and early 1950s, experimental research began to systematically investigate alcohol's hedonic properties. Presumably, alcohol consumption would prove reinforcing as a consequence of its capacity either to relieve stress or to brighten positive emotional experiences. This article reviews experimental research through the years examining the impact of alcohol on both the relief of negative affect and the enhancement of positive affect. It covers initial accounts that emphasized direct pharmacological effects of ethanol on the central nervous system. These early studies offered surprisingly tepid support for the premise that alcohol improved emotional states. Next, studies conducted in the 1970s are considered. Informed by social learning theory and employing advances derived from experimental psychology, this research sought to better understand the complex effects of alcohol on emotion. Coverage of this work is followed by discussion of current formulations, which integrate biological and behavioral approaches with the study of cognitive, affective, and social processes. These current perspectives provide insight into the particular conditions under which alcohol can boost emotional experiences. Finally, future research directions and clinical implications are considered.
长期以来，理解人们为何饮酒以及在某些情况下为何会出现饮酒问题一直困扰着研究人员、临床医生和患者。在20世纪40年代中期和50年代初期，实验研究开始系统地探究酒精的享乐特性。据推测，饮酒可能因其具有缓解压力或增强积极情绪体验的能力而被证明具有强化作用。本文回顾了多年来的实验研究，考察了酒精对缓解负面影响和增强正面影响的作用。它涵盖了最初强调乙醇对中枢神经系统直接药理作用的研究。这些早期研究对酒精能改善情绪状态这一前提的支持出人意料地微弱。接下来，将探讨20世纪70年代进行的研究。受社会学习理论的启发并运用实验心理学的进展，这项研究旨在更好地理解酒精对情绪的复杂影响。在对这项工作进行阐述之后，将讨论当前的理论，这些理论将生物学和行为学方法与认知、情感和社会过程的研究相结合。这些当前的观点为酒精能够增强情绪体验的特定条件提供了见解。最后，将考虑未来的研究方向和临床意义。
