What Kind of Drunk Are You?
Surprise! Booze can turn you into a jerk.
Posted by: John Chandler on Dec 20, 2011 at 10:00AM
9 Comments
Interesting report from the folks over at Slow Cocktails about the different kinds of drunks. In my experience, drunken behavior can be very unpredictable (e.g. remorseful, horny, loud, destructive, mean, cuddly, cute), but the researchers conducting the study for the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology broke their findings down into two camps: those who become increasingly aggressive and those who don’t become any more aggressive than usual. With New Year’s Eve coming up, knowing whom to avoid at the party could come in handy.
Nearly 500 young drinkers (median age 23) were selected for the experiment. Some were given orange juice and (most likely) vodka, and others were given much less potent (placebo) drinks. The subjects were then told an elaborate lie about competing against opponents in a speed-reaction test, with the winner administering an electrical shock to the loser. The results? People who identify themselves as “living in the here and now” became more aggressive (i.e., gave longer shocks and apparently took some measure of delight in it) than those with a well-developed sense of “actions leading to future consequences.”
“Alcohol has a myopic effect—it narrows your attention to what is important to you right now,” said Brad Bushman the lead author of the study. “That may be dangerous to someone who already has that tendency to ignore the future consequences of their actions and who is placed in a hostile situation.”
Not sure how I feel about this. I think there are other significant factors that can lead to increased aggression, most notably one’s mood at the beginning of a binge. So let’s get scientific, drinking buddies: What do you think of the study, and which kind of drunk are you? Me first: I’m a sleepy drunk. I’ve got friends who can wail all night when they’ve got a buzz on, but I usually start thinking about where I’m going to crash well before I fall on my stupid face. Put me down for having a pretty good idea of actions leading to future consequences. Thank experience, old age, whatever. Discuss.
Tags: Science and Research
I’m a silly drunk. I like to make jokes and laugh. Now, not everyone else thinks I’m funny. But I think I’m hilarious—at least at the time. That said, I have no interest in violence or pantsing people or electric shocks. The only things I’d ever partake in are an electric lemonade or an electric iced tea or other similar concoctions. Pass me a straw, man. This aggression will not stand.
Stating the obvious here, but I think one’s age is a major factor in how one handles their alcohol. I was never an aggressive drunk, but I probably said/did a lot of stupid things as a younger drinker, and/or descended into the occasional self-pitying funk. I’m a pretty happy drunk now. Getting drunk is supposed to be fun, after all.
Color me a happy, sleepy drunk. I do tend to think I’m hilarious though, and to have problems with my personal ‘volume control.’ Oh, I’m a cheap drunk too, anything more than 2 cocktails and I’m generally face down in your guest room . . .
You know what pisses me off? Proper use of object pronouns. I mean seriously, “‘WHOM’ to avoid?”
What the hell is in this stuff?
That doesn’t sound like a very fun party.
I’m a fun drunk to be sure, silly, amiable, and I get progressively better at pool, but also have the “volume control” issue. My question is, if you have a good friend who is really annoying when they drink (whiny, pushy, repetitive), do you tell them so they might avoid an embarrassing situation with clients or family? How would one even start that conversation?
@JW: If they’re a good friend, it’s OK to give them a heads-up on their drinking behavior without delivering a temperance lecture. Just let him/her know (when sober) that there are areas of their revelry that could use some improvement (e.g., no one likes racist jokes or wants to see how far you can spit beer).
I’m a sleepy drunk.
In fact, I get so sleepy while buzzed I don’t think I get drunk.
If I do, I sleep right through it.
And no, I’m not mixing alcohol with medications.
I am in the not aggressive section. I’m an “I love you” drunk.