Attention biases and disinhibited behavior as predictors of alcohol use and enhancement reasons for drinking

Disinhibition is a risk factor for alcohol use that may be specifically linked to drinking to enhance positive affect (enhancement motives). In this study individual differences germane to disinhibition were assessed, and their relation to alcohol use and reasons for drinking was examined. Laboratory tasks assessed attentional biases for reward and punishment cues and disinhibited behavior. Self-reported personality, alcohol use, and reasons for drinking were included. Frequent alcohol use and frequent drinking for enhancement, but not for coping or social reasons, were associated with a bias to attend to reward cues and disinhibited behavior. Poor inhibitory control assessed by self-reports was also associated with alcohol use and enhancement reasons for drinking. Results support a positive reinforcement mechanism of alcohol use.