Psychology 409A – Monday, September 5, 2005
Outline #1

By:  Tiffanie Jinbo
A Rage Full Era

 

Reference:  James, Dr. Leon and Nahl, Dr. Diane.  “Road Rage and Aggressive Driving:  Steering Clear of Highway Warfare.”  Prometheus Books:  New York.  2000. 21-34.

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

1.     Road Rage:  Real or Media Hype

a.     Road Rage was a termed originated by the media.  Compared to previous years, the rate of deaths due to road rage has decreased.  Although created by the media, it is real and a major concern in our future driving world. 

b.     Media creates all types of dramas in the world.  The media often determines a trend and has a high amount of influence on the public.  Traffic reports are just not the topic of trend.  The public is unaware of any problems that it faces on our roads, and we can’t just ignore it. 

c.      It is hard to believe media, but Road Rage is an important issue that needs to be brought to the public’s attention. 

2.     Does Gender matter?

a.     Dr. James reports that men report behaving more aggressively in driving than women.

b.     Haven’t we all heard the term, “that must be a woman driver.”  Although women report to be the more dramatic subjects of the world, it is men who have stronger tempers.  The study has its flaws because of the work force and those that work outside of the home. 

c.      Gender issues are actually starting to decrease, but it is the man that has aggression problems in driving.  It is said that due to the way in which you were raised that really counts as a driver, not gender. 

3.     Worldwide Phenomenon

a.     It is across the planet, that aggressive driving is a problem.   With correspondence from people of other countries as well as completed studies, it is the right of Dr. James and Dr. Nahl to say that road rage and aggressive driving is a worldwide problem.  

b.     I always believed that it is the our evolutionary side of humans to prevent death.  Unlike a century ago where death was accepted, we currently avoid death and shelter our loved ones from any pain.  If this is so, then as a successful society we should find an effective solution in decreasing these driving deaths.

c.      I chose this theory because I think it should be made aware to everyone.  Like in the movie “Pay it Forward,” the first step is to tell one person and hopefully that person will pass it on to another and so on. 

 

 

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

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

 

Related Web Links: 

  1. http://www.roadragers.com -  website dedicated to road ragers
  2. http://www.awesomelibrary.org/road-rage.html  - Prevent Road Rage
  3. http://www.drivers.com/article/462/ - Aggressive Driving and Road Rage they aren’t the same