An experimental test of the role of alcohol in relationship conflict

The authors argue for a causal role of alcohol in exacerbating relationship conflict. Participants, after nominating a conflict in their romantic relationships, were assigned to a sober, placebo, or intoxicated condition and were then asked to evaluate the conflict they had previously nominated. Intoxicated participants reported more negative emotion surrounding the conflict and more negative perceptions of their partners ’ feelings. Consis-tent with Murray and Holmes ’ Dependency-Regulation Theory, intoxicated low self-esteem participants reported more insecurity in their partners ’ affections as a result of the conflict and blamed their partners more for the conflict incident. The implications for the relation between alcohol and violence in relationships are discussed. r 2000 Academic Press Alcohol, according to popular culture, can turn an individual in a close relationship into either a doting, starry-eyed lover or an angry, quick-tempered tyrant. Given these seemingly contradictory conceptualizations of the influence of alcohol on relationship functioning, it is surprising that little experimental research has been conducted to clarify the effects of alcohol on close relationships (Leonard & Roberts, 1998). How would we expect intoxicated relationshi