Empirical modeling of an alcohol expectancy memory network using multidimensional scaling
Michael Brannick1992, Journal of Abnormal Psychology
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Abstract
Alcohol expectancies appear in children before drinking begins and mediate the effects of other drinking antecedents. Hence, application of memory models to expectancies in children may increase understanding of drinking initiation. To this end, an instrument to assess children's expectancies within a memory network model was developed and administered to 470 children in 2nd-5th grades. Multidimensional scaling analyses revealed that children generally organize expectancy information along the same evaluative and arousal-sedation dimensions as do adults, and older children become more likely to expect positive and arousing outcomes from drinking. These results suggest a cognitive process that prepares children for drinking initiation during adolescence as well as new, theory-based approaches to prevention. As evidence has accumulated that alcohol expectancies can influence drinking and statistically mediate the effects of other drinking antecedents, efforts have begun to decipher the mechanism of this influence (see ; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 1993, pp. 133-135). Beginning with Tolman (1932), expectancies have been closely linked to memory (e.g.. Holies, 1972;. Recent approaches to studying memory may be useful, therefore, for understanding how expectancies influence alcohol use. To date, memory approaches to relating expectancies to adult drinking have included theoretical state-
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