Abstract

The proposed research will investigate the underlying mechanisms of the effects of alcohol, gender, and their interaction on sexual risk-taking from a traditional decision-making perspective. Two experiments (n=198 each) will be run using a between-subjects, 3 X 2, beverage (alcohol, placebo, no-alcohol) by gender (male, female) factorial design.  After listening to an audio-taped scenario in which a romantic situation unfolds between a couple who just met, subjects will be asked to generate (in Study 1) consequences (i.e., costs and benefits) associated with each of several behavioral options (i.e., having sex or not having sex; having sex using a condom or without using a condom) and judge (in both Studies) the desirability and likelihood of each of these costs and benefits. Whereas Study 1 will obtain self-generated consequences to investigate the individual differences, Study 2 will use a fixed inventory of consequences constructed from Study 1 for a more systematic investigation, controlling for individual differences, of desirability and likelihood of various consequences under each option.  Likelihood will be estimated using both direct probability estimation and Likert-scale ratings and their relative effectiveness will be examined.  Data will be analyzed applying a series of MANCOVAs. In addition, a parallel investigation will be conducted using a scenario related to drinking and driving to examine the extent to which similar decision-making mechanisms appear to operate across distinct alcohol-related risky behaviors (viz. risky sexual behavior and driving while intoxicated).  By studying the effect of alcohol and gender on decision-making processes experimentally, the proposed study will provide further data to elicit the underlying effects of alcohol and thus discover measures which may mitigate the effects of and prevent alcohol misuse.