Psy 409 A,  10/2/05

My First Outline of Assigned Readings

By Michelle Ching

An Understanding of Emotional Intelligence

 

Dr. Leon James, Road Rage and Aggressive Driving. 

Prometheus Books, Amherst: New York 2000. Pgs. 111-119

 

Instructions for this activity are found at:

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm

Instructor:  Dr. Leon James

 

Concept 1:  I.  Inner Power tools – techniques smart drivers use to retrain their emotional intelligence.   Provides a means to restructure assessments of situations

  1. Anger – intensifies aggressiveness and judgment becomes impaired

1.     Venting – mental mechanism for justifying aggression and amplifying it to epic proportions leads to explosive impulsive actions

2.      Consequences – Deep regret, embarrassment, financial loss, depression, injury, or death

      B.     Relaxation techniques to reduce physical arousal

   1.  Consciously breathing slowly and relaxing

C.     Mental reappraisal of the situation

1.     Systematically observing your thinking

 

Concept 2:  Emotional Intelligence - begins by acknowledging a better understanding of road rage syndrome is needed.  Provides an understanding how anger escalates, how venting keeps it going and how to deflate it through rational counterarguments.  Gives drivers tools to manage their social relations in a driving environment.

        Road rage – Irrational mental habits including anger and self-righteousness

A.   Six components that can be learned with practice

1.            Reappraising a situation and look for alternative explanations

2.     Self-regulate negative mood shifts

3.     Empathize with “other side”

4.     Persist in plan despite distracting frustrations

5.     Control or neutralize aggressive impulses

6.            Think with positive outcomes

 

Concept 3:  Three levels of Emotional Intelligence      

Emotional Intelligence Level

State of Feelings

Sequence of Thoughts

Type of Actions

1

oppositional

irrational

Selfish, reckless, impulsive and hostile; constantly expresses criticism; feels insulted and insecure

2

defensive

logical

Suspicious, wary, and competitive, but prudent and restrained; expresses worries and complaints

3

supportive

prosocial

Helpful and friendly; gives others the benefit of the doubt; expresses enjoyment and optimism

 

Related Web Links: www.uwsp.edu/education/lwilson/learning/emot.htm Daniel Goleman

 http://www.answers.com/topic/road-rage - Definition

 http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/aggr-ndx.htm overview of aggressive driving

 

My Home Page:   http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/ching/home.htm

 

The G23 Class Home Page:  http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm