Level of Risk Advocated by Alcoholics

Abstract

12 male alcoholism counsellors and 12 male late stage alcoholic patients responded to a 5-item questionnaire consisting of 3 items chosen from the Wallach and Kogan Choice Dilemmas questionnaire and 2 items constructed to represent dilemmas concerning alcohol. Ss indicated the lowest probability of success they would accept to take the risky alternative, which was clearly the more desirable choice. Results of a 2 × 5 analysis of variance indicated that alcoholics were more conservative in the probabilities they would accept to take the risky alternative, than were the counsellors. Furthermore, the items differed significantly from each other.