Cognitive theories of alcohol use have suggested several important processes that may serve as explanations for increased alcohol use among at-risk drinkers. For example, a review of problem drinking in young adults identified several thought processes about drinking that confer risk for alcohol-related problems, including drinking motives and alcohol expectancies (Ham & Hope, 2003). According to alcohol expectancy theory (Goldman, Brown, & Christiansen, 1987), the combination of strong positive outcome expectancies (expectations of positive and negative reinforcement from drinking alcohol such as increased sociability and decreased tension) together with low negative expectancies (e.g., that alcohol will lead to cognitive or behavioral impairment) will lead to increased consumption and problems. A substantial literature documents the association between alcohol expectancies and drinking behavior (Jones et al., 2001).
