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Take a deep dive into the different archetypes of drunkenness
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Some people feel especially happy or nostalgic when they drink, while others feel grumpy or sad. Just how many drunk personality types are there, though, and how do you know which one you fall under? We’ll cover a common paradigm that highlights 7 different drunk personalities, as well as a research-based paradigm that lists 4 distinct drunk personalities. We’ll even cover how alcohol affects both your brain and your body, so you can stay safe the next time you drink.
Things You Should Know
- One common paradigm lists drunk individuals in 7 categories: affectionate, angry, happy, irresponsible, sad, sloppy, and wistful.
- Another well-known paradigm cites 4 drunk personalities: Hemingway, Mary Poppins, Mr. Hyde, and The Nutty Professor.
- Alcohol affects your brain in a variety of ways, like lowering your inhibitions, which is why there are so many types of drunk personalities.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
7 Stereotypical Drunk Personalities
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The Affectionate Drunk Alcohol affects your brain’s cerebral cortex, which lowers the sense of restraint and inhibition you’d have when sober. [1] X Research source With this in mind, you might find yourself getting more touchy-feely and affectionate with the people around you when you’re drunk, even if it’s not something you would typically do.
- An affectionate drunk might confess their feelings to their crush, or give their friends hugs when they aren’t typically a huggy person.
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The Angry Drunk Alcohol has a variety of impacts on your brain and how you observe and interact with the world around you. For one, alcohol makes it more difficult to analyze all the different social cues of a situation. It also makes it easy to misunderstand someone else’s behavior and even lowers the inhibitions you’d normally have in place. [2] X Research source Because of this, some people tend to be labeled as “angry” or “aggressive” drunks.
- An angry drunk might initiate a yelling match after someone bumps into them, or may even resort to physical violence.
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The Happy Drunk Alcohol is a funny substance—while it’s technically a depressant, it can boost a person’s feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine . [3] X Research source Because of this, some people tend to be really free-spirited and cheerful when they start drinking.
- A happy drunk might be super giggly, as well as cheerful and friendly with everyone they meet.
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The Irresponsible Drunk Alcohol affects your ability to make sound judgments, which can lead to some pretty questionable and reckless decisions. [4] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Irresponsible drunks might consistently use drinking as an opportunity to make poor decisions.
- An irresponsible drunk might try to get a tattoo or piercing or make a financially ill-advised decision with their credit card.
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The Sad Drunk Alcohol throws your brain chemistry off-balance. In fact, research shows that frequently drinking a lot can be connected with depression. [5] X Research source Sad drunks might use alcohol as a way to cope with their current state of mind, and/or they may tend to feel blue whenever they drink.
- A sad drunk might keep to themselves while drinking, or may even start crying.
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The Sloppy Drunk Since alcohol directly impacts the brain, your sense of balance and coordination are often thrown off if you’ve had a lot to drink. This can lead to “sloppy” behavior, like tripping, having trouble with simple tasks, and spilling drinks. [6] X Research source
- A sloppy drunk might have a hard time sitting up on their own, or they may stagger on their way to bathroom.
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The Wistful Drunk Alcohol can have all sorts of impacts on your emotional state—it all depends on the person. Some people, for instance, may feel especially nostalgic and wistful after having a drink. In fact, men reported in one poll that whiskey specifically inspired nostalgic feelings in them. [7] X Research source
- A nostalgic drunk might spend most of their time focusing on “the good old days” or fun, carefree memories from the past.
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Tips
- If you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, you’re not alone—there are plenty of ways to treat alcohol addiction , including counseling, medication, and group therapy. Check out resources like NIH , NIAAA , HelpGuide , and NHS for more information. [27] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://drinkwise.org.au/under-18s/how-alcohol-affects-your-brain/
- ↑ https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-and-aggression
- ↑ https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-and-your-mood
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/risks/
- ↑ https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-and-depression#howalcoholcanaffectyourmood
- ↑ https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/liquor/training/rsa/refresher/unduly-intoxicated/signs
- ↑ https://alcohol.org/guides/alcohol-fueled-emotions/
- ↑ https://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.html
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/16066359.2015.1029920
- ↑ https://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.html
- ↑ https://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.html
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/16066359.2015.1029920
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/16066359.2015.1029920
- ↑ https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1954/hemingway/biographical/
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/16066359.2015.1029920
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zg2trdm/revision/1
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/16066359.2015.1029920
- ↑ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-nutty-professor
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/does-drinking-alcohol-kill-brain-cells
- ↑ https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/alcohol-and-the-brain
- ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over
- ↑ https://alcohol.org/health-effects/memory-loss/
- ↑ https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/liquor/training/rsa/refresher/unduly-intoxicated/signs
- ↑ https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/liquor/training/rsa/refresher/unduly-intoxicated/signs
- ↑ https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/liquor/training/rsa/refresher/unduly-intoxicated/signs
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354386
- ↑ https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help#pub-toc1
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