April 06, 2003
Eye Color and Alcoholism
Eye color predicts alcohol use in two archival samples
Jonathan F. Bassett and James M. Dabbs Jr.,
Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303-3083, USA
Personality and Individual Differences
Volume 31, Issue 4 , 5 September 2001, Pages 535-539
Abstract
The present study used data from two archival samples to test the hypothesis, derived from Worthy, M. (1999), Eye colour: a key to human and animal behaviour. Lincoln, Nebraska: to Exel (originally published 1974) that light-eyed individuals would be more likely than dark-eyed individuals to abuse alcohol. Sample 1 consisted of 10,860 Caucasian male prison inmates, and Sample 2 consisted of 1862 Caucasian women respondents in a national survey. In both samples, individuals with light eyes had consumed significantly more alcohol than individuals with dark eyes. These results are consistent with previous findings that dark-eyed people exhibit more physiological arousal and more sensitivity to some medications than light-eyed people. The results may indicate that greater sensitivity to alcohol in dark-eyed individuals prevents them from drinking the large quantities of alcohol needed for development of physical dependence. Alternatively, greater behavioral inhibition may motivate light-eyed individuals to engage in alcohol consumption to achieve harm avoidance.
Posted by Dienekes at April 6, 2003 08:13 PM | PermaLinkSwedish authorities seem to think that swedes have a high propensity for alcoholism, because
the regulations on alcohol are stricter in Sweden
than in most other european countries. However, I have heard that in America it is also a common belief that native indians have a higher propensity for alcholism than whites, so I don't
know what truth is here.
>> However, I have heard that in America it is also a common belief that native indians have a higher propensity for alcholism than whites, so I don't
know what truth is here.
I think some groups are more tolerant of alcohol and can thus consume it in greater quantities than others. Also, different groups are used to different liquors.
Posted by: Dienekes at June 13, 2003 05:51 PMDo you have any links to these studies that you can post? Thanks in advance.
Posted by: Daniel Jaffe, Attorney At Law, DUI Defense at December 5, 2003 09:14 AM