Alcohol Increases Aggression Before You’ve Taken a Sip - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society
Two guys walk into a bar. After they’ve been sitting for a while, one makes an innocuous comment, and the second responds with an eruption of anger, telling his acquaintance in no uncertain terms that he had better watch his step. “It’s the alcohol talking,” the other patrons murmur.
In fact, the man who got triggered may have been nursing a ginger ale all night. Newly published research suggests the mere thought of alcohol—which would be unavoidable in this scenario—can heighten physical aggression.
The study confirms and expands upon a 2010 study from France which came to a similar conclusion. It specifically finds that responses to ambiguous provocations typically turn more aggressive if one has been exposed to the idea of drinking.
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