Second, we hypothesized that positive urgency alone would predict increases in the quantity of alcohol consumption and the problems associated with alcohol use, over and above initial levels of these behaviors. The theoretical basis for this prediction is as follows. It appears that the experience of extreme emotions can deplete one’s ability to control one’s behaviors, perhaps because the need for emotional control absorbs resources that might otherwise be devoted to impulse control [28, 29]. Relatedly, when experiencing intense emotions, individuals tend to focus on immediate needs and short-term considerations, at times to the neglect of their long-term interests [30]. These factors could lead an individual to less controlled consumption, resulting in (a) increases in the amount of alcohol consumed at any given drinking episode, and (b) increases in the experience of problems associated with alcohol use. Thus, individual differences in emotion-based impulsivity may predict increased quantity of consumption and problems from that consumption.
