Report 3
Affective, Cognitive, and Sensorimotor aspects of
Traffic Psychology
One principle in Traffic Psychology is that driving behavior includes
the affective domain (feelings and motives), the cognitive domain
(thoughts and judgments), and the sensorimotor domain (sensory input and
motor output). These three aspects, occur so quickly that it often seems
like a reaction. But since they all effect each other, if we can
recognize them, we can control our actions behind the wheel. Which
makes us all better drivers. All three are present in
any single traffic behavior.
For instance one of Danell
Saitos pet peeves while driving is when a
person signals to change lanes but no one lets them in. It bothers her
so much that when someone doesn't let her in, "I start
swearing and driving
recklessly because I'm so frustrated and angry."
She says, "it's easier to
cut in front of some one that isn't paying attention than to wait until
someone lets you in."
So for Danell, the affective domain is that she feels angry and
frustrated when people don't let her in when she signals to change lanes.
The cognitive domain is that she thinks that the people who don't let her
in are not courteous, only think of themselves, or they have something
against her. The
sensorimotor domain is how it effects her, she starts swearing and driving
recklessly.
I agree with Danell that it is easier to just cut in front of
someone who is not paying attention that it is to wait for someone to
let you in. My advise for Danell would be to get into the proper
lane when there is an opening, rather than staying in the faster
lane until the last moment (where if she doesn't get into her lane
she will miss her turn or cutoff.) If we wait until we get into
this critical do or die situation, we are setting ourselves up for a
stressful situation. So to avoid this situation entirely, my advise
is to plan ahead, leave earlier, and be more patient and
understanding.
Another example is that Michelle
Ota seems to think that when she is in her car she is
invincible and feels that rude gestures are OK because, "other people can't
see me and even if they do, I'll never see them again." The affect domain
is when she feels invincible when she is behind the wheel. The cognitive
domain is when she doesnt care about what other drivers think because she
thinks that they can't see her or won't see them again. The sensorimotor
domain is that she displays rude gestures (flippin them off, I assume) and
speeds off.
As for Michelle, I think she needs to change her cognative
process. She needs to realze that her actions on the road effects
others as well. She needs to be less selfish and take
responsibility for her actions, we all have to shere the same road,
so can't we just all get along?!
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