Effects of mood and urgency on activation of general and specific alcohol expectancies

We tested the interaction of a mood manipulation with positive and negative urgency on activation of general and specific alcohol expectancies. In Study 1, high negative urgency was associated with increased positive-alcohol IAT scores following a negative mood induction, F(1, 93) = 5.71, p < .01. In Study 2, high positive and negative urgency were associated with faster ETASK reaction times for global positive and tension reduction expectancies. These associations did not differ across mood conditions or expectancy subtypes. Our results suggest that positive and negative urgency are associated with increased activation of general, positive alcohol cognitions, rather than mood-specific subtypes.

► Interaction of mood and urgency on activation of alcohol expectancies.
► Two studies test activation of general and mood-specific expectancy subtypes.
► Positive and negative urgency increase activation of general alcohol expectancies.
► Negative urgency and negative mood interact to activate positive expectancies.