Does alcohol make people appear more attractive?

A recent study conducted by Dr. Molly A. Bowdring of the Stanford Prevention Research Center, USA, and her thesis director, Dr. Michael Sayette, has shed light on the influence of alcohol consumption on social interactions and attractiveness perception. Published in the 'Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs,' the study indicates that while alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of wanting to approach individuals already deemed attractive, it does not alter one's perception of others' attractiveness.

A widespread belief exists that alcohol consumption makes people appear more attractive; however, this phenomenon has not been systematically studied until now. Previous research had been limited to assessing attractiveness based on photographs, without considering the potential for real interaction.

To conduct the study, the researchers invited 18 pairs of male friends in their twenties to the laboratory to assess the attractiveness of individuals shown in photos and videos. The participants were informed that they might have the opportunity to interact with one of those individuals in a future experiment. After rating their attractiveness, participants were asked to select the individuals they would most like to interact with.

The friend pairs visited the laboratory on two occasions. On one occasion, both men were given alcohol to drink (up to approximately 0.08% blood alcohol concentration, the legal driving limit in the United States), and on the other occasion, both received a non-alcoholic beverage.

The purpose of having pairs of friends in the laboratory was to mimic the social interactions that would normally occur in a real alcohol consumption situation.

The study's results showed that whether or not alcohol was consumed did not influence how attractive the participants found others. "The well-known effect of alcohol sometimes appears in the literature, but not as systematically as one might expect," observes Sayette.

However, alcohol consumption did affect the likelihood of men wanting to interact with individuals they found attractive. When drinking, they were 1.71 times more likely to select one of the four most attractive candidates for a future study than when sober.

The authors suggest that alcohol may not alter perception, but instead increase confidence in interactions, giving men the courage needed to want to meet people they found most attractive, something they would otherwise be much less likely to do. These findings could have significant implications for therapists and patients.

"People who drink alcohol may benefit if they recognize that valued social motivations and intentions change while drinking in ways that may be attractive in the short term but potentially harmful in the long term," concludes Bowdring.

This study adds a new perspective on the effects of alcohol on perception and social interaction. While it does not alter attraction perception, alcohol can influence the decision to approach individuals deemed attractive, which could have both positive and negative implications in various social contexts.

The findings of this study could be particularly beneficial for individuals seeking therapy for social anxiety or alcohol dependency. Recognizing that alcohol does not alter perception of attractiveness but does affect confidence in social interactions could help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and social interaction strategies.

Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of understanding the nuanced effects of alcohol on social interactions and decision-making processes. While alcohol consumption may boost confidence and facilitate interactions with individuals deemed attractive, it may also lead to decisions and actions that could be regretted in the long term. Therefore, it is crucial to approach alcohol consumption with mindfulness and awareness of its potential effects on social interactions.