Aggression as a function of the interaction of alcohol and threat.

Intoxicated and nonintoxicated subjects competed in a reaction time situation against either a potentially threatening opponent or a nonthreatening opponent. The results indicated that the intoxicated subjects initiated higher levels of attack than the nonintoxicated subjects only in the threatening situation. It was concluded that aggression is not just a consequence of the pharmacological action of alcohol. Instead, alcohol-induced aggression appears to be a function of the interaction of alcohol consumption and the degree of threat or provocation inherent in a particular situation.