Date of Award

1-1-2014

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Psychology

Program

Social/Personality Psychology

Content Description

1 online resource (viii, 162 pages) : illustrations.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Ronald Friedman

Committee Members

Mark Muraven, Mitchell Earlywine

Keywords

Affect, Alcohol Cues, Alcohol Outcome Expectancies, Misinformation Effect, Alcohol, Drinking of alcoholic beverages, Perception, Recollection (Psychology), Memory

Subject Categories

Cognitive Psychology | Social Psychology

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that both alcohol cues and positive affect increase the tendency to incorporate false information into memory. This series of studies sought to determine if affect mediates the influence of alcohol cues on incorporation of false information into memory. Initially, a pilot study was completed to determine the individual differences that predict which individuals experience a heightening of positive affect following visualization exercises involving alcoholic beverages. Next, a study was conducted to determine if this affect increase from exposure to alcohol cues leads to increased acceptance of misinformation into memory. Participants' memories were tested while they were in the presence of an alcoholic or control beverage, rather than merely visualizing these beverages. The pilot study found that individuals engaging in alcohol thoughts exhibited a lower reduction in positive affect compared to those in the control condition. In addition, the relationship between cue exposure and positive affect was moderated by alcohol cognitions, such that individuals with stronger positive alcohol outcome expectancies experienced a greater boost in positive affect after engaging in an alcohol imagery exercise. However in study 1, there was no relationship between exposure to alcohol cues and change in positive affect. In addition, there was no influence of alcohol cognitions on change in affect. Cue exposure, alcohol cognition, and change in positive affect also showed no influence on responses to misinformation items. Regardless of cue type exposure, an overall misinformation effect was observed, whereas individuals made more errors on misinformation items while at the same time expressing more confidence in their responses to misinformation items.

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