Effects of acute alcohol consumption on hostile attribution bias towards emotional facial expressions and implicit approach/avoidance tendencies

Key Points

• The study aims to investigate how acute alcohol consumption affects hostile interpretation of emotional faces and associated behavioral tendencies.
• Participants consumed alcohol and then viewed emotional facial expressions.
• Judgements of ambiguous and clear emotional faces were recorded.
• Implicit approach/avoidance tendencies were assessed following alcohol intake.
• Alcohol consumption increased hostile interpretations of ambiguous emotional faces.
• Happy faces were perceived as more hostile after consuming alcohol.
• Enhanced hostile attribution bias may elevate the potential for aggressive behavior.