This is heightened when consuming alcohol, according to a 2012 study. Alcohol impairs cognitive function, which means it is more difficult to problem-solve, control anger, and make good decisions when drinking. Decreased cognitive function also means it’s more likely for you to misread a situation and overreact. For example, if you’re intoxicated, you might perceive someone bumping into you by accident as a provocation and respond aggressively. Spirits have a higher concentration of alcohol (40%) than beer (5%) or wine (12%) and are often downed quickly, either in shots or with a sweet mixer.
How Anger and Alcohol Contribute to Domestic Violence
This occurs in long-term relationships such as marriage, as well as all dating scenarios. If your partner shows intense feelings of anger and a lack of self-control when drinking, reach out for help. Domestic violence is a very dangerous potential result of alcohol abuse. A 2017 study showed that men under the influence of alcohol had higher rates of physical and sexual aggression. People with co-occurring disorders should receive specialized treatment.
Therapeutic Approaches to Dealing with Angry Drunks
According to Alcohol Myopia Theory, a drunk person should focus predominantly on those inhibitory cues and, as a result, be less aggressive. Increasing the salience of inhibitory information leads us to the somewhat counterintuitive idea that alcohol can actually reduce aggressive behavior. One common therapeutic method employed is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This therapy helps individuals understand alcoholic rage syndrome the triggers and thought processes that lead to their aggressive behavior when drinking. By recognizing these patterns, they can learn new coping strategies and ways of thinking that may reduce the likelihood of violent outbursts. Therefore it’s crucial to remember that terms like ‘angry drunk’ are generalizations – they help us understand certain behaviors but don’t define an individual entirely.
Tips to change your relationship with alcohol
- Alcohol tends to lower inhibitions and affect judgment, which can lead to aggressive behavior.
- Alcohol reduces your ability to process multiple sources ofenvironmental information; therefore it compromises your ability to evaluate the intentions behind the actions of people around you.
- Results showed enough escalation in people consuming these drinks to label the beverages a “potential risk” to increased hostility.
- There’s no evidence that different types of alcohol cause different mood states.
It decreases inhibition and can increase stress hormones like cortisol, making some individuals more prone to anger and aggression when drinking. We’ve heard of the “raging alcoholic” or “angry drunk” stereotype, but is there any truth to the idea? So here’s my call to action – next time you see someone turning into an ‘angry drunk’, don’t turn a blind eye. Instead, try reaching out with compassion because understanding is the first step towards resolution. Let’s strive together for healthier relationships with alcohol – for ourselves and our society.
- Attending one-on-one therapy with a licensed therapist can help you work through anger issues in a more private setting.
- In their study, Prof. Bellis and team used anonymized data from the Global Drug Survey, which is the largest online survey addressing alcohol consumption and illicit drug use among adults worldwide.
- While women tended to experience stronger emotional responses to the different types of alcohol, men were more likely to feel aggressive after drinking than women — particularly men that drank heavily.