Implicit and Explicit Reasons for Driving under the Influence of Alcohol

Abstract

Driving under the influence of alcohol is the main risk factor for road traffic accidents. One of the most used models to explain drink driving is the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The TPB postulates that behavior is preceded by the intention to do it, and intention is determined by attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control. However, this model excludes automatic processes such as implicit attitudes. This study aims to determine if implicit attitudes contribute to explain the behavior of driving under the influence of alcohol, beyond the explanatory power of the TPB, and to determine if the role of implicit attitudes varies when driving under the influence of amounts of alcohol below or above the legal limit. A correlational study interviewing 205 Argentinian drivers was conducted. Intention predicted behavior in both cases, and implicit attitudes and perceived behavioral control predicted drink driving below the legal limit. Our results indicate that the inclusion of implicit attitudes contributes to explain this behavior when it is performed under lower doses of alcohol, complementing the rational decision process postulated by the TPB with the analyses of automatic processes.