409a – Presented September 12, 2005

409a – Presented September 12, 2005
My First Outline of Assigned Readings
By Julie Gersh
The Causation of Driver’s Aggression and How to Avoid it

Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare; By Dr. Leon James and Dr. Diane Nahl, Prometheus Books, 2000. Pages 46-67.

Instructions for this activity are found at www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James

I. Driving Provokes Rage

A. There are many different emotions that people tend to experience while driving a vehicle which tend to cause drivers to become angry. In turn, this anger often develops into road rage.

An individual driver Emotional Stimulus Anger Road Rage Reaction

- Drivers experience different levels of emotion. Some of the factors are based on the distance driven, the route they take (ie highway, back road, etc.), whether there are passengers present, and age and experience of the driver.

- Drivers will react differently according to their own unique situation and emotional status (how fast are you going, how fast others are going, your current mood, etc.). A driver’s reaction to the emotional stimuli and situation will determine whether or not the driver will experience road rage.

- 15 Common emotions are: immobility; restriction; regulation; lack of personal control; being put in danger; territoriality; diversity; multitasking; denial; negativity; self-serving bias; venting; unpredictability; isolation; emotional challenges.

(http://www.nasjax.navy.mil/safety/aggressive_driving.htm)

Example:

Mary Jane, a senior at Pillsbury Dough High School, received a D+ on her home economics midterm. Furious and nervous she was not going to pass the class, Mary Jane left school in a fury. Cursing to herself, she ignored the first red light coming out of the school parking lot. Two different cars beeped at her angrily. This made Mary Jane very defensive and shot the drivers a nasty look. She sped down the long narrow road that led to her home on Blueberry Circle. She heard her cell phone ringing and with foot on the gas, rummaged through her bag to find her phone, ran a stop sign and crashed into Mr. Jones who was half way out of taking a right turn.

- In the previous example, Mary Jane was experiencing many emotions that a typical student or employee might after a long or hard day at school/work. Mary Jane was restricted in that she was driving down a narrow road and did not have the ability to switch lanes, etc. She was not following general driving guidelines of speed limits, eyes on the road, and obeying stop signs and lights. She clearly had no personal control, was multitasking, venting and obviously put others in great danger.

- Psychologically, a person who is experiencing any of the aforementioned emotions is likely to convey those feelings into further aggression while performing an activity such as driving. If a person is especially aggravated one day, it is probable they will take that out on someone or something else.

C. My Opinion

- The concept that driving provokes rage was chosen because the stimuli are potential causation for road rage.

- It is the building blocks for understanding oneself as a driver. One can not alter their behavior until they are aware what is causing it. Only when a driver self-appraises,

or becomes aware of a situation and their personal reaction, can they change their responding behavior.

- I do not necessarily feel that there are fifteen concrete emotional stressors drivers experience though I do see the list (p. 52) as a general overview of many common

circumstances drivers experience.

- I am able to relate to many of these emotions on a personal level and am able to appreciate how others feel these emotions while on the road – it is important to

acknowledge that these emotions exist.

II. Impaired Mental States Are Designated as an Aggression State

A. - Those whose mental condition is impaired – whether it is because of alcohol, drugs, medication, fatigue, pain, illness, etc. – is considered driving with aggression. Reason being, the driver is consciously deciding to get behind the wheel of their vehicle – if it is not a conscious choice, there are even more problems!

- The mental impairment of the driver puts other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at risk of getting hurt.

(http://www.polson.k12.mt.us/salishian/99-00/issue5/page2/drunk_driver_dude.gif)

Example: Jack Daniels had not slept in 48 hours. His big presentation to his boss was earlier in the afternoon and it did not go well. Jack decided to meet his co-worker, Bud Light at the local brewery. Jack stopped at his home to grab his headache medication and went to the brewery. Jack did not have more than two drinks; however, the alcohol, lack of sleep, and medication mixed into a bad combination. On his way home, Jack fell asleep behind the wheel and rammed his car into a tree in a ditch. His car was wrecked and Jack was trapped, late at night, and on a back road where he was unlikely to be found until morning.

- In this example, Jack’s mental state was aggravated by three factors: medication, alcohol, and sleep deprivation. Here, not only did he cause potential danger to others, but he was the cause of his own injuries and likely, his own death. One’s physical state of mind includes their psychological state of mind.

C. My Opinion

- In my personal opinion, I feel that this concept results in the most dangerous and devastating situations on the road.

- It stood out to me because I feel people need to be aware that the actions they take on their own terms effects others in a huge way.

- A car can easily be a dangerous weapon. Possessing a deadly weapon while in an altered state of mind will almost certainly create deadly outcomes.

- I do agree that driving under the influence and driving with an impaired mind should be considered aggressive.

III. Recognizing Ones Own Emotional Self will Save Lives

A. -There are two prevalent terms that will assist in drivers becoming less aggressive.

- Self-appraising is the act of a person who becomes aware of his own actions, emotions, and reactions.

- Self-regulation is the ability to stop oneself from reacting to a stimulating situation in a negative manner and the ability to maintain control.

- Practicing not losing control in emotional circumstances and avoiding visions to retaliate on another’s negative actions will allow a driver to feel less aggressive. This is important in social situations as psychology says that we should be aware of our emotional state as it relates to interacting with others, especially on the road.

B. Example:

Suzie’s boyfriend broke up with her one rainy evening. She was sad, scared, and angry. She left his house with tears streaming down her face. Suzie knew that her windshield wipers were not working that great. So, she decided to keep her eyes on the road and be careful driving, aware that she was upset. Suzie calmed herself down while listening to her favorite music. The car behind her flashed their high beams so as to signal her to speed up. Instead of Suzie becoming angry, which she was likely to do in her situation; Suzie signaled into the next lane and let the car pass her.

- In the example above, Suzie could have reacted in a negative manner, given her bad evening and broken wipers. Rather, she became aware of her emotional state, and worked to alter it so she could get home safely.

- When the car behind her signaled for her to drive faster, Suzie had the choice of getting angry and becoming aggressive; she pulled over to let the other apparently aggressive driver drive onwards.

- Suzie reacted in an ideal way. Something told her that if she paid attention to the wrong things, she would end up in a much worse position. It is difficult for many people in this society to put their own personal problems aside for another’s benefit.

C. My Opinion

- I feel that this concept applies not only to driving but to every day life. Suppose a person is angry at class or work, it is best not to go home and take that anger out on a parent or spouse. Essentially, that is what a driver is doing, but with a deadly weapon.

- I agree that to save ones own life and others while on the road, it is best to evaluate one’s feelings and state of mind and attempt to react in a positive way if a negative situation does occur.

- In my own life, I like to acknowledge my feelings to myself and to others. That is why this concept stood out to me. I feel it keeps me healthy when I do not let things build inside. I am better able to manage myself and my life.