Study Shows Alcohol Can Reduce Aggression

It's well known that alcohol is a catalyst to barroom brawls. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that alcohol increases aggression and rage. A recent study done at the University of Kentucky suggests otherwise.

The study shows that alcohol actually impairs our brain's ability to allocate our mental resources to the various activities around us. We are more engrossed on provocative events rather than calming ones. This is what actually causes barroom brawls.

Scientists set up a study where a group of young men were inebriated while another group stayed sober. They then put both of these groups up to a stressful game which required quick responses. The winner would give the loser a shock of varying intensity. Scientists also made some of the volunteers perform a difficult memory task with the purpose of seeing how the groups reacted to the shocks while distracted.

What was found was that the drunks who had nothing to distract them exhibited more aggression towards their adversaries, whereas the drunks who were distracted were far less aggressive than their sober counterparts.

The entire story can be read here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0718113922.htm

Okay.. then how does alcohol reduce your aggression if it only subsides it while you're distracted?

I think this study is pretty ridiculous, showing the small amount of aggression that can be reduced when they are "distracted", compares nothing close to how much more aggressive alcohol can cause someone to be in normal situations.

Probably because when you are drunk, you become easily distracted, and it's difficult to maintain on one particular thought. Probably why driving is so much more difficult and dangerous.

I still find it bullshit though, because "beer muscles" are exhibited a lot amongst drunk men.