The relationship between violent fantasy and alcohol misuse in aggressive behaviours

Bruce D. Watt; Arisara Kohphet; Dante Oberin; Sean Keating

doi:10.1111/ap.12011

The relationship between violent fantasy and alcohol misuse in aggressive behaviours

Bruce D. Watt^*, Arisara Kohphet, Dante Oberin, Sean Keating

^*Corresponding author for this work

Faculty of Society & Design

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Alcohol misuse and cognitions supportive of violent behaviour have been linked with higher likelihood of engaging in aggressive actions. The present study investigated the interactive effects of alcohol abuse and violent fantasy on aggressive behaviour. A community sample of 279 adults recruited from South East Queensland completed the Aggression Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Scheduled of Imagined Violence, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Controlling for age, gender, and social desirability response, participants who acknowledged fantasies about violence and higher levels of alcohol consumption reported higher levels of aggression. Importantly, the interactive effects of alcohol and fantasy indicated that the contribution of violent fantasies was greatest among individuals with high levels of alcohol use compared with individuals with low alcohol use. The current findings, in conjunction with recent experimental evidence, highlight potential concerns regarding the additive effects of alcohol and violent fantasy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	452-458
Number of pages	7
Journal	Australian Psychologist
Volume	48
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12011
Publication status	Published - Dec 2013

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AB - Alcohol misuse and cognitions supportive of violent behaviour have been linked with higher likelihood of engaging in aggressive actions. The present study investigated the interactive effects of alcohol abuse and violent fantasy on aggressive behaviour. A community sample of 279 adults recruited from South East Queensland completed the Aggression Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Scheduled of Imagined Violence, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Controlling for age, gender, and social desirability response, participants who acknowledged fantasies about violence and higher levels of alcohol consumption reported higher levels of aggression. Importantly, the interactive effects of alcohol and fantasy indicated that the contribution of violent fantasies was greatest among individuals with high levels of alcohol use compared with individuals with low alcohol use. The current findings, in conjunction with recent experimental evidence, highlight potential concerns regarding the additive effects of alcohol and violent fantasy.

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The relationship between violent fantasy and alcohol misuse in aggressive behaviours

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