Abstract

MICHELINI, Yanina; ACUNA, Ignacio  and  GODOY, Juan Carlos. Emotions, decision making and alcohol consumption in university students. Suma Psicol. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.1, pp.42-50. ISSN 0121-4381.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sumpsi.2016.01.001.

According to the somatic marker hypothesis, decision-making is adaptive when emotional processes are integrated into cognitive activity. The primacy of the affective system over cognitive control in young people is related to decision making based on instant gratification, regardless of eventual future harmful consequences. Binge alcohol consumption -very common in young people- is associated with an increased maladaptive decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate decision making in young people of both sexes who are moderate and binge alcohol consumers, according to the type of emotional induction to which they have been exposed. Using a cross-over design, decision making was assessed in 79 participants aged 18 to 29, before and after the positive or negative emotional induction. The Iowa Gambling Task and the Cognitive Bias Task were administered in order to evaluate decision making. Emotions were induced using film clips. Heart rate was also recorded during the procedure. As a result, women negatively induced and men positively induced achieved a worse performance on the Iowa Gambling Task. Heart rate decreased compared to baseline during the experimental sessions. Binge drinkers had a worse performance compared to a moderate performance in the Cognitive Bias Task. It is concluded that emotional experience and the type of alcohol consumption influence decision making in university students.

Keywords : Emotions; Decision making; Alcohol consumption; Young people.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )