Alcohol, expectancy, cognitive labeling, and mirth.

Investigated the role of alcohol, expectancy, and cognitive labeling in producing positive emotional changes following moderate alcohol consumption. In a 2–3 factorial design, 96 male normal drinkers (undergraduates) were (a) given either an alcoholic (.45 g ethanol/kg) or a nonalcoholic beverage, (b) instructed that they were receiving either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage, and (c) either informed or not informed of common physical sensations that result from a moderate dose of alcohol. Ss were then exposed to humorous stimuli, and their laughter and self-reports of mood were measured. Hypotheses based on extensions to alcohol intoxication of the cognitive-attributional components of S. Schachter's (1964) theory of emotion were not supported. Although both instructing Ss that they had received alcohol and actually administering alcohol increased Ss' reports of positive affect, only the beverage content instruction influenced Ss' laughter. Implications for current conceptualizations of the emotional and behavioral effects of alcohol consumption are discussed. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)