However, contrary to expectations, we found a negative association between decisional balance and alcohol-related problems.One possibility for this finding is that individuals who are higher in decisional balance may have already reduced their drinking as a precautionary measure, and, therefore, experience fewer alcohol-related problems. Alternatively, it is also plausible that heavier drinkers may not be ready or lack the motivation (as represented by lower decisional balance) to change their heavy drinking habits despite experiencing greater alcohol-related problems. Along these lines, it is also plausible that heavier drinkers may be experiencing more psychological reactance in response to the decisional balance,and therefore may be listing more pros and fewer cons to drinking(lower decisional balance) so as to avoid directly confronting their alcohol-related problems.