Suppressing Anger When Sober Can Lead to Violence When Drunk

Violence and alcohol are two things that should never mix as the outcome can have far-reaching consequences. Individuals who cannot drink responsibly can be at risk for violent behavior when actions are not kept in check. This is especially true for the individual who has yet to learn how to deal with anger.

A recent Science Daily release examined a study that had been published in the journal, Addiction. This study found that drunkenness increases the risk for violent behavior, but only for those individuals who have a strong inclination for suppressing anger.

The findings of this study are interesting as they suggest that drinking can inflict physical aggression. The approach used in the study actually reduces the risk of drawing erroneous conclusions about cause and effect and the authors highlight that only a tiny fraction of all drinking events result in violence.

The authors also note that intoxicated aggression is likely to occur in situations where the drinker has a tendency to withhold angry feelings when sober. This finding suggests that dealing with anger in a healthy way when sober can eliminate angry aggression when under the influence of alcohol.

Authors used data from nearly 3,000 individuals. Among those who reported a high inclination to suppress feelings of anger, a 10 percent increase in drinking to a point where the individual is intoxicated is associated with a 5 percent increase in violence. The research team also noted there was no association among individuals who did not have a habit of suppressing angry feelings.