Subjective response may reflect individual differences in sensitivity to alcohol’s pharmacologic effects (Morean and Corbin 2010). Schuckit and colleagues have reported results supporting a low response model (e.g., Schuckit and Gold 1988; Schuckit et al. 1984), in which muted subjective responses to alcohol in the laboratory predict greater risk of alcohol dependence longitudinally (Schuckit and Smith 2000). Low subjective response is thought to be problematic due to diminished experience of sedative effects that provide a signal to slow down or stop consuming alcohol. In lieu of this signal, individuals may drink frequently to hazardous levels (Morean and Corbin 2010; Schuckit 1994). A strong relationship is believed to exist between family history of alcohol problems and low subjective response (Pollock 1992; Quinn and Fromme 2011) though not all studies have confirmed this relationship (de Wit and McCracken 1990; Vogel-Sprott and Chipperfield 1987). A recent meta-analysis found support for the low response model among studies comparing family history positive and negative individuals using oral alcohol administration paradigms (Quinn and Fromme 2011).
