The drunken self : the five-factor model as an organizational framework for charcterizing one's own drunkenness

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This study evaluated the use of the Five-Factor Model (FFM) as an organizational framework for understanding self-perceptions of drunkenness (i.e. individual changes in mood, affect, and behavior associated with intoxication). Existing literature supports the use of the FFM personality dimensions (i.e. Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Intellect, and Conscientiousness) as a comprehensive representation of stable aspects of mood, affect, and behavior. This study investigated self-reported, mean-level changes from baseline personality (i.e. sober personality) to typical "drunken"� personality when under the influence of alcohol. Using cross-sectional data from an online survey of college student drinkers at a large, mid-western university, participants reported on their sober and drunk "personalities."� On average, individuals reported being substantially lower in conscientiousness and intellect when drunk, and moderately higher in extraversion, with small decreases in neuroticism and agreeableness (with variation in amount of these changes associated with participant sex and drinking patterns). Findings support for the use of the FFM as a framework for organizing self-reported drunken personality change.