An experiment tested the hypothesis that subjects low in social assertiveness would become less inhibited than subjects high in social assertiveness after drinking alcohol. 144 men and women were screened for social assertiveness on the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. 84 subjects, 42 men high and low in assertiveness and 42 women high and low in assertiveness were selected for the main study. They were randomly assigned to either a high alcohol group, a low alcohol group, or a control group. Assertiveness after drinking was assessed by a state version of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and by answers to specific questions related to videotaped social assertive scenes. The results do not support the disinhibition hypothesis and were discussed in terms of statistical regression and in relation to other main hypotheses often referred to when accounting for changes in intoxicated social behavior.
展开▼
