In addition to considering impulsivity at a “cold” level, impulsivity may also vary in relation to dynamic affective processes. In particular, a dimension of impulsivity referred to as “negative urgency” (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001) is defined as non-planning tendencies under the influence of negative affective states. When studied in the context of alcohol use, negative urgency mirrors the negative reinforcement model. For example, Anestis, Selby, & Joiner (2007) examined the ability of negative urgency to predict negative reinforcement patterns of drinking (“drinking to cope”) among a sample of college students (n = 70) at two time points approximately 1 month apart. Urgency predicted “drinking to cope” at both Time 1 and Time 2, and changes in urgency from Time 1 to Time 2 also predicted changes in “drinking to cope” behaviors. Thus, greater increases in negative urgency were significantly associated with higher levels of negative reinforcement-driven drinking behaviors. This idea that affective processes affect impulsive behaviors offers a promising new direction for studying the role of impulsivity in alcohol use.
