Psychology 409a-
My Fifth Outline
of Assigned
By Kalena Luney
Eliminating Road
Rage
Leon James and Diane Nahl (2000).
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare. (
Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
I. Directing Road Rage at Passengers
a.) road rage is a phenomenon that is usually associated with being directed at
other drivers, however, it can also be directed at passengers. This is when a passenger feels threatened or afraid while riding in a car with an aggressive driver. The driver is inconsiderate of their feelings and is thus acting aggressively towards them.
b.) I have been in the car with drivers who have not considered my feelings,
however, I had never looked at it as a form of road rage before. I now understand that by disregarding my fear, the driver is acting towards me as if I was just another driver on the road that they were disregarding.
c.) I think this is an important topic because it gives the passenger some argument
to their feelings of fear and may be a way inform drivers of their actions.
II. Partnership Driving
a.) this is a form of training that helps you to change ingrained habits. another
person helps you by objectively observing your driving habits and records them. this works because it’s hard to witness your own driving habits objectively.
b.) I know that I wasn’t aware of my driving habits before I took this class so I
can see how it would be helpful to have an objective opinion to make yourself aware of the way you drive.
c.) I think this is a good idea and may have an effect because people are always
more aware of their actions after someone tells them. And if they realize that their actions are rude or dangerous, they may just stop them.
III. Random acts of kindness
a.) These can be things, such as: being patient, waving, letting someone into your
lane… These acts could be a system for reversing the actions of road rage and aggressive driving.
b.) I always feel better when I let someone into my lane, or wave at someone and
they wave back. I think that I hope that they will in turn (hypothetically) let me into their lane at a later time.
c.) This idea can be helpful because it is addicting. It makes you feel good when
you do something nice for others. However, if someone takes advantage of your kindness, you are more likely to not want to show that kindness to someone else for fear they will take advantage of it as well.
Related Links:
www.drdriving.org/articles/partnership.htm
www.actsofkindness.org/inspiration/stories/
www.drdriving.org/articles/acts_of_kindness/htm
My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/luney/home.htm
Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm