Expectancies As A Predictor Of Adolescent Alcohol Use :: essays research papers

INTRODUCTIONThis paper examines the use of an idea referred to as expectancy as a predictor of teen alcohol use. Expectancies ar concepts that a society reinforces which go on to influence a persons behavior. Current clinical and field studies show that alcohol expectancies are reasonably accurate tools in estimating future drinking patterns. This paper sets out to determine the practical applications of this knowledge in the real classroom.HISTORYPrior to the early 1960s, virtually no clinical studies were available on the topic of teen drinking, as literature mostly focused on negative social and moral implications of the activity (Maddox and McCall, 1964). Contrary to slimly popular notion, however, adolescent drinking is not unique on to the last few decades. In fact, the best indicators show that "drinking among youth has been a longstanding phenomenon" that has shown no significant change over the course of the last 120 years (Barnes, 1982). In the sixties, the issue grew in prominence probably due to the wax of the counterculture and an increase in teen drinking and driving accidents. A number of pioneering social scientists set out to determine basic information about the commonness and frequency of alcohol use in this age group. Though specific data varied from study to study due to methodology and demographics, a salient picture emerged that "alcohol use is very prevalent among teenagers and young adults." In fact, Barnes (1982) conOnce research findings established the basic foundations, further questions presently arose on the psychological reasons behind the increase in consumption. Though the answers are still not definitive by any means, a few comm nevertheless accepted theories arose. Teens almost consistently report one of three reasons for drinking partying, self-expression, and anxiety (Maddox and McCall, 1964). None of this information, however, is of particular alarm. Regardless of the reason, most adolescent drinker s consume only occasionally and generally responsibly (Barnes, 1982 Finn, 1979). In fact, a few authors contend that teenage drinking can be a fairly normal tempo in the process of identity development (Finn, 1979). "Drinking," claims Maddox and McCall (1964), "is important for validating their self-conceptions as adults or their claims to adult status." A great deal of controversy exists on whether clock time spent with peers in reckless activities such as drinking is a positive aspect of the socialization process as well. EPROBLEM beverageIn the late 1970s and into the 1980s researchers begun to realize that they had not designed their studies to examine this much more destructive phenomenon of problem drinking.