Some people describe themselves or their loved ones as “mean drunks.” Indeed, alcohol can sometimes cause rude and even aggressive behavior. Here are five reasons why.
1. Lowered Inhibitions
Alcoholic drinks lower your inhibitions. That means they make you less concerned about what others think, which can help you feel more relaxed, confident, and social.
However, you may also lose your self-awareness and understanding of social etiquette. This increases your risk of aggression.
For example, if someone insults you when you’re sober, you might be able to respond calmly or even just brush it off. When you’ve been drinking, though, you may have a much more aggressive response.
2. Impaired Brain Function
Like other drugs, alcohol affects your brain function. In particular, it can cause:
- poor judgment
- poor memory
- difficulty making decisions
- difficulty solving problems
All of these effects can contribute to aggression. For instance, when you have poor judgment and memory, you may overreact to a non-threatening situation, such as someone accidentally bumping into you.
Similarly, if you struggle to make decisions and solve problems, you may quickly become violent when faced with conflict.
3. Certain Personality Traits
In most cases, drinking alcohol makes you more impulsive. It can also make you focus only on the present with no regard for the future (a condition often called “alcohol myopia”).
Both of these traits can lead to alcohol-related aggression. This is especially true if you already have an impulsive personality.
According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, impulsive people are far more likely to become violent when drinking than people who consider future consequences.
4. Differences In Body Chemistry
Your individual body chemistry plays an important role in whether you’ll become a “mean drunk.”
For example, the male sex hormone testosterone can increase irritability, aggression, and violence. Thus, people with high levels of testosterone (adolescent and young adult males) face a higher risk of alcohol-related aggression than other people.
Another chemical that may affect your behavior while drunk is serotonin. This neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) helps regulate your mood and keeps you calm. If you have low levels of serotonin, you may be more prone to alcohol-induced anger.
5. Expectations
Various news stories, TV shows, and other media show people acting aggressively while under the influence of alcohol. When repeatedly exposed to such media, you might expect to become aggressive each time you drink.
This expectation can cause alcohol-related aggression in people who normally would not experience it. In fact, in many studies, people who are given mock alcoholic drinks behave aggressively just because they think the drinks contain alcohol.
What To Do If You Act Mean While Drunk
If you regularly become aggressive when you drink, you can protect yourself and those around you by quitting alcohol or at least limiting your intake.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends that women have no more than one drink per day and men have no more than two drinks per day.
Avoid Binge Drinking & Heavy Drinking
You should also avoid binge drinking and heavy drinking. Binge drinking occurs when a woman has at least 4 drinks in 2 hours and a man has at least 5 drinks in 2 hours.
Heavy drinking occurs when a woman has more than 3 drinks per day or more than 7 drinks per week and a man has more than 4 drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week.
Spot The Signs Of Alcohol Use Disorder
If you feel unable to control your alcohol consumption, you may be struggling with alcohol addiction (also called alcohol use disorder). Other symptoms of this disease include:
- mood swings
- loss of motivation
- tolerance (needing an increasingly larger amount of alcohol to feel the desired effects)
- physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and nausea, when you try to stop drinking)
If you experience these symptoms, seek help at a substance abuse treatment program. These programs offer treatments like medical detox, mental health counseling, and support groups.
How To Help A Mean Drunk
If your friend or family member acts aggressively while drunk, share your concerns with them. However, to protect yourself, don’t have the conversation until they are sober.
Tell them you’d feel safer if they limited their drinking habits. If they feel unable to do so, offer to help them find addiction treatment.
To learn more about alcohol addiction treatment, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. We provide personalized, recovery-focused to help you or your loved one stay alcohol-free.
Sources:
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology — Failure to consider future consequences increases the effects of alcohol on aggression
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol’s Damaging Effects On The Brain
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Drinking Levels Defined
United States National Library of Medicine — Alcohol-Related Aggression—Social and Neurobiological Factors
