Report: Critique of an Article on Violent Fantasy and Alcohol Misuse

This report offers a critical analysis of an article investigating the connection between violent fantasy and alcohol misuse in the context of aggressive behavior. The article, authored by an Australian psychologist, examines data collected through surveys within the Australian community, aiming to understand how alcohol misuse contributes to aggressive tendencies. The critique highlights methodological issues, including the exaggeration of alcohol's influence, the limited sample size of 279 respondents from an initial distribution of 2150 surveys (a 13% response rate), and the non-representativeness of the sample. The critique also discusses the application of script theory to understand behavioral patterns and the limitations of the research, particularly concerning the lack of consideration for factors such as demographics and personality traits. Furthermore, the critique points out that the questionnaires were distributed with a random sampling method to the respondents. The report concludes by questioning the reliability of the research findings and the validity of the conclusions drawn by the original article.

Article Critique

Table of Contents
Overview..........................................................................................................................................1
Exaggeration of data........................................................................................................................2
Non relatability of the Research information...................................................................................2
Script theory.....................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

Overview
This article is written by the Australian psychologist for the identification of relationship
between Violent Fantasy and Alcohol Misuse in development of Aggressive behaviour.
Information is collected from the Australian community which support their thinking about
misuse of alcohol creates aggressive behaviour in human beings. In this regard, carry out
research activities through use of survey method. More than 2150 surveys are delivered from
which 279 participants provides their views. The response rate is around 13%. From total
number of participants who provides their view includes 148 females, 87 males and 39 are such
which did not disclose their genders. To attain accurate results, the age group of respondents us
selected from 18 to 61 years. It is observed that Alcohol is consumed most by the individuals
which prevails in such age group. To conduct their survey activities nine different questionnaires
are prepared out which 4 are used in process of current analysis. The different type of
questionnaire conducts different research questions which helps to gather various information
which is somehow related to their research topic. Such different questionnaire are named as
Aggression Questionnaire, Schedule of imagined violence, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification
Test and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale short Form C (Herman, (2015)). The
information is not collected in such manner they decided so, the results are analysed as per the
views which are grabbed from the 279 participants. From the analysis of the results of
Aggression Questionnaire observed that the mean score is less then the norms value which is
provided by Buss and Perry (1992) is around 77.8 for Male and 68.2 for female. . The actual
mean results from the present case study about AO is 61.17. As per the analysis of the
information gathered from AUDIT observed that 56.8% of the individuals from the current
survey are considered as non harmful users of alcohol, 23.04% are classified as harmful users of
alcohol and the persons which are noticed that they dependant upon alcohol includes 20.28%.
Through analysis of the information from the Violent Fantasy, observed that 17.88% of
individuals from the total respondents acknowledged that they fantasised about harming of
others.
So, overall it is identified from the above research conducted by the Australian
Psychologist that at some point of time higher consumption and misuse of alcohol results in
development of the aggressive behaviour in individuals. Through this they fantasised in day
dreaming about harming of the other individuals of society.
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Exaggeration of data
Physical violence and aggression is old phenomenon which is present in the society and
community from past period of time. It is observed that it is increased day by day over the period
of time. There is significant role in played by the high consumption of alcohol by the individuals
fall between the age group of 18 to 61 years in improvement of the instances of violence. There
are many factors are developed in the behaviour of individuals which has direct impact upon
their genetics, personal characteristics, neurological condition etc. So, it is seemed that Alcohol
is contributed in development of the situations of physical violence. But in the present Article,
contribution of Alcohol is exaggerated because there are many other factors which influence the
behaviour of individuals and contributes in development the violent fantasies and aggressive
behaviour. Such different type of other factors are noticed as childhood victimisation, social
misuse and high amount of social problems such as poverty and neighbourhood violence. As per
the report provided by Australian Institute of Criminology 2009 provided that one of the serious
violent offences referred as homicide is recognised stable (Ferguson, (2011)). So, not only
Alcohol is the biggest factor which results in the aggressive behaviour of individuals in society.
The results which are obtained after completion of the survey also proves the fact that
exaggerated role of Alcohol is mention in the article. From survey sample, only 17.88%
individuals occurred violent fantasises. Also, the mean which is obtained from aggression
questionnaire is lower in vale which provided by Boss and Perry (1992). On the basis of the
results which are depicted by AUDIT that from the total of sample size 56.8% are considered as
the non harmful users of alcohol. It is observed that more than 50% of individuals from the
sample size are not harmed due to the consumption of Alcohol. The exaggerated information is
provided by the author in the present article.
Non relatability of the Research information
To attain the accurate results required to ascertain the views of members which selected
for this purpose. In the present report the results are analysed on the basis of the views of only
279 respondents. But in actual for conducting survey 9 different types of questionnaires are
delivered to 2150 respondents. So, the response rate which is attained by the author for their
research topic is only 13% which is very low in respect of concluding effective and accurate
results. Mainly the consumption of Alcohol more prominent on males which have the least
contribution in research activities. From 279 respondents, 87 are males which is around 31.8% of
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total sample size. The less role of male in research has significant role in providence of
misleading results. The largest contribution is gathered from the female side which is around the
number of 148 means 54% contribution in research process. On the other hand, 39 respondents
are such who doesn't disclose their gender as it is difficult to categorise the views in proper
manner which also reduces the reliability of information. In the process of survey, questionnaire
method is used which is send to selected sample size. All the respondents which are selected
from total population is ranged between 18 to 61 years. The common age when consumption of
Alcohol is high by the individuals in lie between 18 to 25 years and This age group of
respondents which provides their views are only 55 which only 20%. So, the lack of contribution
from young generation lowers down the reliability and accuracy of data and results (Milteer,
Ginsburg, & Mulligan, (2012)).
Random sampling method is used for the purpose of selection of respondents. The
different respondents are selected from South East Queensland, Australia. They are approached
by the researcher through providence of questionnaires by using of the methods of letter boxes
and door knocking. Non appropriateness of this research method is assessed from the facts that
there is no face to face interaction so, there is no guarantee about accuracy of data. Also, limited
time period is provided to respondents to provide their answers. So, most of the selected not
provide their views in given frame of time.
Script theory
It is important psychological theory which provides that the behaviour of human being is
falls into different patterns as they react variously in different situations. In the present article,
Australian Psychologist uses this theory regarding understanding of the behaviour of individuals
lives in Australian community on the basis of their reaction in different situations. Under this
theory, the results which are analysed are known as scene which can further be defined as
sequence of events which are linked to the experiences which are faced by the individuals on
happening of event. On the other words, considered as the sequence of expected behaviour of
individual in a given particular situations. The different concept and principles of this theory is
used by the author to analyse the impact upon the behaviour of individual after consumption of
high amount of alcohol. Also, they identified the relationship between Violent Fantasy and
Alcohol misuses in Aggressive Behaviours.
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There are many factors which contributed in the process of activation aggressive
behaviour includes recalling of the previous events and presence of environmental cues. This
will be more danger for the individual if they simultaneously develops the fantasies of violence
and hurting others. But there are many limitations which are associated with this theory which
reduces the effectiveness of this theory about determination of the behaviour of individual in
particular situations. This can be defined as there is lack of the important factors such as
demographics and personality which is not included under this model (Ward, Fisher & Beech,
(2016).). This means while assessing the behaviour of individual these two factors are ignored
demographics and personality. There is no clear definition is provided regarding behavioural
control which makes the task more difficult regarding measurement of the behaviour. The basic
assumption which is followed while using the provisions of theory is that individuals are rational
and take systematic decisions on the basis of available information. Here, all the unconscious
situations and aspects are ignored while assessing behaviour of individual.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence--from domestic abuse to
political terror. Hachette UK
Ferguson, C. J. (2011). Video games and youth violence: A prospective analysis in adolescents.
Journal of youth and adolescence. 40(4). 377-391.
Maniglio, R. (2011). The role of childhood trauma, psychological problems, and coping in the
development of deviant sexual fantasies in sexual offenders. Clinical psychology
review. 31(5). 748-756.
Milteer, R. M., Ginsburg, K. R., & Mulligan, D. A. (2012). The importance of play in promoting
healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bond: Focus on children
in poverty. Pediatrics. 129(1). e204-e213.
Ward, T., Fisher, S., & Beech, A. (2016). An integrated theory of sexual offending. In Sexual
Offending (pp. 1-11). Springer, New York, NY.
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