Poster
session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological
Association,
Toronto,
August 2003
Running
Head: SHY ALCOHOLIC
Cognitive Characteristics of the Shy Alcoholic
Bernardo J. Carducci Alison C. McLeish Michael R. Bryant
Shyness Research Institute
Indiana University Southeast
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the cognitive characteristic of shy individuals who use alcohol as a self-selected strategy to deal with their shyness in social situations. From a group of 162 undergraduates who completed the Shyness Survey and the Substance Use Inventory, sixty-five shy individuals were classified into two subgroups: shy non-substance users (n = 49) and shy substance users (n = 16). The pattern of results indicated that shy substance users reported feeling less interpersonal discomfort (e.g., less nervous with others) but more intrapersonal distress (e.g., less self-confidence) than shy non-substance users. The treatment implications of the present results suggest that mental health professional treating individuals for substance abuse should not ignore the possibility of shyness as being a contributing factor to the substance-abuse problem, as well developing specific substance abuse treatment programs designed for the special needs of shy individuals.
Address all correspondence to: Bernardo J. Carducci, Shyness Research Institute, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN 47150 or bcarducc@ius.edu.
Cognitive Characteristics of the Shy Alcoholic
Previous research has examined the self-selected strategies used by shy individuals to deal with their shyness (Carducci, 2000; Carducci, Marion, Lynch, Dosch, & Boley, 1997). One specific strategy identified by this research is that of “liquid extraversion.” Liquid extraversion is defined as the tendency for some shy individuals to deal with the affective discomfort of their shyness by consuming alcohol and other forms of self-medication. While liquid extraversion has been identified as a self-selected strategy employed by shy individuals to deal with their shyness (Page, 1990), other research has identified an inverse relationship between shyness and alcohol consumption (Burch Rivet, Heimberg, & Levin, 1997). A possible explanation for this inconsistency may be that alcohol consumption as a strategy to deal with shyness is restricted to a limited number of shy individuals. Consistent with this reasoning, Carducci (2000) noted that only 12.7% of shy individuals studied reported using liquid extraversion as a self-strategy to deal with their shyness. Thus, while not all shy individuals my use liquid extraversion as a means of reducing their feelings of shyness, those individuals who manifest intense anxiety reactions might be more inclined to do so. The purpose of the present study was to identify the characteristics features of a subgroup of shy individuals who demonstrate a tendency to use alcohol and other substances to make themselves feel more relaxed and sociable.
Methods
Participants: The participants were 162 undergraduates (66 males and 83 females, with 13 individuals not specifying their gender, ranging in age from 16 to 42, with a mean age of 17.94 years) who volunteered as part of an in-class activity.
Materials: Shyness was assessed by using the Shyness Survey, which consists of 10-items examining the self-reported personal and situational pervasiveness of shyness (Carducci & Zimbardo, 1995). The Substance Use Inventory consists of 20 items, which are presented in the left portion of Table 1, and examines the self-reported affective, attitudinal, and behavioral correlates of alcohol use.
asked for their willingness to answer a few questions regarding their social interactions. After expressing their
willingness to participate, each participant received a copy of the IUS Shyness Survey and the Substance Use
Inventory. After completing the two instruments, the participants returned the materials to the research assistant.
Results
For the purposes of the analyses, those in the Shy Substance User Group (n =16, 7 males & 9 females, mean age of 16.84) where individuals who answered “yes” to Question 1 on the Shyness Survey: Do you consider yourself a shy person? and “yes” to Question 2 on the Substance Use Inventory: The best thing about the use of substances is I feel less shy, afraid, and more relaxed. Those in the Shy Substance Non-User Group (n = 49, 22 males and 27 females, mean age of 18.65) answered “yes” to Question 1 on the Shyness Survey and “no” to Question 2 on the Substance Use Inventory. Table 1 presents the percentage of shy substance users and shy non-substance users who expressed agreement with each of the Substance Use Inventory items. The pattern of results suggests that the shy substance users were less likely to agree that they feel tense and forget what they are about to say to someone new (#7), find it hard to talk to strangers (#9), and are nervous when talking to a prospective date (#11) than the subgroup of shy non-substance users. However, the shy substance users were more likely to agree that they lack self-confidence (#17) and dislike trying to be someone they were not (#20) than shy non-substance users.
Discussion
The results of the present study replicate, help clarify, and extend previous research investigating the use of alcohol by shy individuals to deal with their shyness (cf. Carducci, 2000; Carducci et al., 1997). More specifically, the results of the present study replicate previous research by documenting the use of liquid extraversion as a self-selected strategy employed by some shy individuals to deal with their shyness. The results of the present study help to clarify the conflicting results regarding the extent to which shy individual consume alcohol to deal with their shyness by noting that it is only a small subgroup of shy individuals who do so. Finally, the results of the present study also extend previous research on shyness and alcohol consumption by identifying the cognitive characteristics and consequences of those shy individuals who employ liquid extraversion to deal with their shyness. Taken together, such evidence provides support for the identification of an additional subtype of shyness labeled the “shy alcoholic.” The principal cognitive characteristic of the shy alcoholic is the expectation of being less shy after the consumption of alcohol. The principal consequences seem to be that while the consumption of alcohol seems to help the shy alcoholic produce a more personal positive affective state (e.g., less anxiety) and greater degree of social interaction (e.g., ease of talking to others), it also seems to create a sense of cognitive distress (e.g., lack of confidence, creating a false persona).
In addition to such personal consequences, the notion of the shy alcoholic raises some professional issues as well. More specifically, it reflects the belief that if an individual has to drink to be social, whether the person is shy or not, the individual has a problem with alcohol that needs to be addressed (cf. Connors, Maisto, & Derman, 1994; Stacy, Widaman, & Marlatt, 1990). Such a concern suggests that mental health professionals dealing with shy individuals should pay special attention to the possible presence of alcohol-related problems. Conversely, it also suggests that mental health professionals treating individuals for alcohol and other substance abuses should pay special attention to the possibility of shyness being a contributing factor. .
In this regard,
the treatment implications of the present results suggest that mental health
professionals treating individuals for substance abuse should not ignore the
possibility of shyness as being a contributing factor to the substance-abuse
problem and consider the inclusions of social skills development, cognitive
modification, and other intervention strategies designed specifically to help
shy individuals cope effectively with their shyness (cf. Carducci, 1999;
Henderson 1994) as part of a program in the treatment of the shy
alcoholic.
References
Burch, M. A., Rivet, K. M., Heimberg, R. G., & Levin, M. A. (1997). Shyness, alcohol expectancies, and drinking behavior: Replication and extension of a suppressor effect. Personality and Individual Differences, 22, 193-200.
Carducci, B. J. (1999). Shyness: A bold new approach. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Carducci, B. J. (2000). What shy individuals do to cope with their shyness: A content analysis. In W. R. Crozier (Ed.), Shyness: Development, consolidation, change (pp. 171-185). New York: Routledge.
Carducci, B. J., Marion, C. R., Lynch, D., Dosch, M. M., & Boley, A. L. (1997, August). Top-ten self-selected strategies to overcome shyness: A content analysis. Poster presentation at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago.
Carducci, B. J., & Zimbardo, P. G. (1995, Nov./Dec.). Are you shy? Psychology Today, 34-41, 64, 66, 68, 70, 78, 82.
Conners, G. J., Maisto, S. A., & Derman, K. H. (1994). Alcohol-related expectancies and their implications to treatment. In R. R. Watson (Ed.), Drug and alcohol abuse reviews: Alcohol abuse treatments (pp. 203-231). Totowa, NJ: Human Press.
Henderson, L. (1994). Social fitness training: A treatment manual for shyness and social anxiety. Palo Alto, CA: Shyness Institute.
Page, R. M. (1990). Shyness and sociability: A dangerous combination for illicit substances use in adolescent males? Adolescence, 25, 803-806.
Stacy, A. W., Wildaman, K. F., & Marlatt, G. A. (1990). Expectancy models of alcohol use. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 918-928.
Substance Substance
Substance Use Inventory Items Users Non-Users
________________________________________________________________ ________________________
1. I was more shy as a child than out-going. 68.8 69.4
2. The best thing about the use of substances is I feel less shy, afraid,
and more relaxed. 100.0 00.0
3. When in a group of people, I have trouble thinking of the right thing
to say. 75.0 81.6
4. I often drink or use drugs before going into social situations or going
out in public. 12.5 6.1
5. I feel nervous when speaking to someone in authority 75.0 69.4
6. The use of substances helps me get through the day and accomplish
things I need to get done. 00.0 00.0
7. I often tense up and forget what I was about to say when trying to
talk to someone new. 50.0 71.4
8. I use substances no so much for enjoyment but to make me feel and
act “normal.” 6.3 00.0
9. I do not find it hard to talk to strangers. 31.3 20.4
10. On days I feel more assertive and in control, I use less alcohol or drugs.
Then on stressful days when I feel more anxious and tense, they help
take the “edge off.” 25.0 8.2
11. I am especially nervous when talking to someone I would like to date. 68.8 81.6
12. Using drus or alcohol prevents my having frightening, overwhelmed,
or anxious thoughts. 12.5 2.0
13. I often replay entire discussions in my mind, wishing I had said
something different. 87.5 83.7
14. Sometimes I need drugs or alcohol to stop the feeling I’m going to die
or lose control. 00.0 2.0
15. People see me as very quiet but I do not want to be. 68.8 65.3
16. I avoid social situations or restaurants where no alcohol or drugs are
available. 6.3 6.1
17. I believe I lack confidence in myself. 81.3 57.1
18. I have trouble looking someone “right in the eye.” 43.8 38.8
19. When trying to stop using or abusing substance, I experience
spontaneous panic attacks I have never had before. 00.0 00.0
20. I often prefer to be alone rather than trying to be “myself” with other
people. 50.0 28.6
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Shy Substance Users (n =16)
Shy Substance Non-Users (n = 49)