Alcohol and Aggression. Prevalence

Interpersonal aggression is typically defined as a behavior that is directed toward another individual with the intent to cause harm. The perpetrator acknowledges the act may inflict harm on the victim, and the victim is motivated to avoid the incident. Harm in this definition can encapsulate various types of harm, including emotional, psychological, or physical harm. This definition is sufficiently broad in scope as to include indirect aggressive behavior, such as relational and verbal aggression, as well as more physically aggressive acts, such as violent threats or assault. Also imbedded in the definition is the requirement that the behavior be carried out with the intent to cause harm regardless of the actual outcome.

Violence is considered to be a more severe form of aggression in which harm is intentionally inflicted. Absent from the literature is a description of the point at which an aggressive act is considered a violent act. There are behaviors that are clearly violent (e.g., murder, physical assault); however, there are other cases (e.g., uttering threats to cause harm, attempted robbery) whereby the distinction is less clear and classification is more challenging. Evident from these definitions is that all violent behavior can be categorized as aggressive; however, not all aggressive behavior is violent.

Furthermore, in the extant criminal psychology literature, behavior liable to be punished by the courts (e.g., convictions for assault, kidnapping, robbery) is violent behavior classified as a violent crime. Conversely, other harmful behavior that is primarily psychological or emotionally damaging in nature (e.g., name calling, spreading rumors) is not typically punished by the courts and is more commonly deemed to be aggressive behavior. A violent crime can range from a physical assault in a bar context, a serious aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm, sexual assault, or, most severe in outcome, a homicide. Interpersonal aggression and violence have been studied from various theoretical perspectives and are understood to be influenced by numerous environmental, social, neurobiological, and cultural factors.

Substance use, particularly the consumption of alcohol prior to the perpetration of a violent incident, is well-documented as a significant risk factor for violence. Numerous epidemiological, cross-sectional, and experimental studies have investigated and established the positive relationship between alcohol use and violence. This entry begins with an overview of the prevalence of alcohol-related violence and some of the key risk factors for this subtype of violence. The entry concludes with a discussion of an intervention framework for individuals involved in alcohol-related violence.

Prevalence. In terms of prevalence, the influential research of Kai Pernanen examined the presence of alcohol in episodes of violence and reported alcohol use in 42% of violent incidents. Other studies identified alcohol as an influencing factor in as many as 60-85% of violent incidents. The exact proportion may vary by jurisdiction, definition of violence, and the sample of offenders involved. However, what has been consistently reported is the positive association between alcohol and violence and that a large proportion of violent crime involves alcohol use.

Violent crime negatively affects not only the victim but also the victim’s family, the community at large, and the perpetrator of the violent act. Alcohol-related violence has significant social and economic costs, so a complete understanding of its precursor or underpinning is important.

Despite alcohol use being implicated in violent behavior, the majority of individuals who consume alcohol are not violent. Acute alcohol consumption rather than chronic alcohol abuse has been suggested to be more strongly associated with individuals incarcerated for a violent offense. However, neither acute alcohol use nor chronic alcohol abuse is sufficient for aggression to occur because many drinking episodes do not result in violence, and some acts of violence do occur without the influence of alcohol. Therefore, the following question remains: What factors influence the relationship between alcohol use and aggression?

Various individual, environmental, cultural, and situational factors influence the strength of the relationship between alcohol and aggression. Examples include dispositional aggression personality disorders, impulsivity, problem-solving ability, and cognitive functioning. The following is an overview of some of the key risk factors involved in alcohol-related violence.