The Effects of Alcohol, Gender, and Sensation Seeking on the Gambling Choices of Social Drinkers

The preference-reversal, or the reflection, effect occurs when the valence of the decision option influences risk preference (A. Tversky and D. Kahneman, 1981-31998-001). The present study examined 3 possible moderators of gambling choices—alcohol, gender, and sensation seeking—among 108 healthy male and female volunteers. After receiving a moderate dose of alcohol, a placebo, or a no-alcohol control beverage, participants completed a betting task in which they could risk a monetary bonus by selecting and playing out a potential gain and a potential loss. Results indicated a preference-reversal effect among high sensation seekers only. The finding that individual differences moderated gambling choices is more consistent with L. L. Lopes\u27s (see record 1987-98851-006) security-potential/aspiration (SP/A) theory of decision making than with prospect theory. As in previous experimental studies, no significant effects were found for a moderate dose of alcohol. Using SP/A and risk homeostasis theory, the methodological and conceptual reasons for a consistent lack of an effect of alcohol on gambling choices across several studies are discussed

Alcohol: Does It Make You Successful? A Longitudinal Analysis

This thesis analyzes the link between alcohol consumption and labor market outcomes, such as income, employment or hazard rate of leaving unemployment. It does so by using panel data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) forthe period 2006 until 2010. While cross-sectional methods show a positive relationship between non-abusive alcohol consumption and labor market outcomes, fixed effects methods do not confirm a causal effect of alcohol consumption on labor market outcomes. These results suggest, that the often replicated, cross-sectional finding of a positive relationship between income and alcohol consumption (alcohol income puzzle) is due to selection bias