Estelle Spira

Alcohol's Impact on Spontaneous Conversation Topics Among Strangers

Advisor: Kasey Creswell
Majors: Psychology

Abstract

Alcohol is known to enhance social interactions, but little research has examined how it affects conversations. This study examines whether intoxicated individuals engage in different discussions than sober individuals, providing insight into acohol's role as a social lubricant. Using data from the larged, federally-funded Behavior Alcohol Responses (BAR) study, where 393 young adults engaged in unscripted conversations while consuming either a moderate dose of alcohol or a placebo beverage, we will transcribe and analyze speech content using AI-driven topic modeling. We hypothesize that intoxicated participants will engage in more personal, riskier conversations, contributing to increased social bonding. Findings will offer a deeper understanding of how alcohol influences communication and may improve our understanding of alcohol's reinforcing properties. 

Bio

I grew up in a small beach town in southwest Michigan — that's literally in the middle of nowhere. The summers were filled with long days in the sun, finding hidden hiking paths and spending as much time in the water as possible. When winter hit, it was the season of gray, the only exciting thing was the possibility of a snowstorm leading the snow to sparkle in the brilliance of the rare sunshine. There were also the deeply-embedded Republican, Christian beliefs that were expected to be followed by everyone in town. I learned from an early age that these weren't values that were important to me. My family pushed the importance of finding out what values matter most to me, holding true to them and finding a great support system through that. I very much embodied that advice. From this, I built a tight-knit support network that holds the same values I do. These values include holding true to who you are and that everyone matters and should be treated with respect and equality. My social network, as well as my tight-knit family, taught me how much I value quality over quantity in terms of friendships. I've always been fascinated by the way people forge connections and how these at times seem like unlikely bonds. This curiosity about how groups function, why people seek belonging, and how social interactions function is what drove me to pursue this research.

In addtion to these connections, I also grew up with a passion and love for dance. I was never the best in the room, but that never mattered to me. For me, dance is the ultimate self-expression. It's a place that I can be unapologetically me and embrace the music and just let go. I learned an important lesson from dance that not everything you love needs to be for achievement but can just be about the way it makes you feel alive. While I may not dance in the same way as I used to before college, I never stopped dancing down the grocery store aisles to fun music, or improvising in my room with the lights off as a way to de-stress and let loose.

In addition to this love, throughtout my time as a young adult, I've learned to appreciate exploring the world and experiencing new cultures. One thing that I knew I always wanted to do when I got to college was study abroad, because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a different culture. I was able to fulfill that dream by studying abroad in Athens, Greece. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, because it's made me learn more about myself and that I can still take on new experiences on my own. Through every experience, I've learned the importance of staying true to myself, embracing new challenges and finding meaning in the connections I build along the way.