Although all people under the influence of alcohol behave differently, there are signs that allow them to be typed. “Hemingway”, “Mary Poppins”, “Mr. Hyde” or “Crazy Professor” – which of them do we look like when intoxicated, scientists have found out.
Each of us reacts to alcohol differently. You can find a lot of amateur classifications on the Internet, but there is still little scientific information on this topic. Clinical psychologist Rachel Winograd of the University of Missouri and colleagues set out to fill the gap and find out how a person’s personality traits influence their behavior when drunk.
The study involved 187 pairs of student friends who often drank together. They filled out questionnaires in which they reported the facts of their biography and described how they behave when sober and drunk. They were also asked to describe the typical behavior of a friend while intoxicated.
After computer analysis of the data, it was possible to identify four types of psychological reactions to alcohol, which they named after famous personalities and literary heroes. Find yourself, acquaintances and friends during banquets.
1. Ernest Hemingway
As Hemingway wrote, he can “drink as much whiskey as he likes and not get drunk.” This is the most common type. Among the students, 42% claimed that their behavior practically does not change under the influence of alcohol. In a state of intoxication, their conscientiousness, organization, composure, responsibility and intelligence decreased less than others.
The risk of becoming an alcoholic or doing something while drunk is minimal for representatives of this type.
2.Mr. Hyde
The second most common type – 23% of the sample – those who alcohol turns into monsters, similar to how Dr. Jekyll turned into Mr. Hyde. Their indicators of conscientiousness, intelligence and complaisance are sharply reduced, they often behave irresponsibly and aggressively.
It is the Hydes who most often have problems after drinking alcohol – memory lapses, injuries, arrests …
3. Crazy professor
This type – about 20% of the sample – when drunk, completely changes. From introverts, such people turn into extroverts and behave much less consciously. Just like the character Eddie Murphy in the comedy The Nutty Professor who swallowed a secret chemical formula of his own making.
Although their behavioral changes are especially noticeable, there are no serious negative consequences from drinking alcohol.
4. Mary Poppins
This is the rarest type – it manifested itself in only 15% of study participants. They are very accommodating, try to please everyone in a sober state and, after drinking, remain the same. As with the Hemingways, awareness does not drop sharply. People in this group are at the lowest risk of alcohol problems.