Psychology 409a, Nov. 28, 2005
My eighth Outline of Assigned Readings
By: Teroa Paselio
 
Reference: Rothe, Peter J. “Driving Lessons.” University of Alberta Press: Alberta. 2002. 
Dealing with stress, aggression and pressure in the vehicle. Leon James Pages 21-34 
 
Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
 
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
 
Concept 1: Stressors
 A. There are fifteen stressors that might lead to aggressiveness on the road. 
 1. Immobility 9. Denying our mistakes
 2. Constriction 10. Cynicism
 3. Regulation 11. Loss of objectivity
 4. Lack of Control  12. Venting
 5. Being put in danger 13. Unpredictability
 6. Territoriality 14. Ambiguity
 7. Diversity 15. Lack of emotional intelligence
 8. Multi-tasking
 B. When I’m driving and I cut someone off because I didn’t see them, sometimes I wish I could hold up a sign that said “sorry” or “you idiot” for someone who cuts me off. If I was in class and I knocked someone’s bag over cause I didn’t see it, it would be easy for me to say sorry. But since we as drivers are in the car it’s hard to tell if a persons is upset or thankful. This uncertainty or “ambiguity” can drive someone to stress which physically can you. Culturally, communication styles are different so it is even harder to infer what a gesture might really mean.
 C. The concept of these fifteen stressors gives us good reason to be aware of our own actions on the road. I think it helps drivers become aware that we are implying these stressors on other drivers as well and it informs us of what they are and their effects.
 
Concept 2: Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
 A. Resisting change may hinder your ability to improve your driving skills. Blaming others and viewing your driving technique as better than others might indicate your aggressiveness as a driver.
 B. When I drive and I cut someone off, I used to tell myself that the person was driving to slow and that’s what they deserved. However, if someone cut me off I’d think that he was such a bad driver. By blaming others for my mistakes it certainly hinders my ability to improve my skills.
 C. I chose this concept because I have come to learn a lot on road rage and aggressive driving. I think this concept made me rethink how I perform as a driver. I totally agree with the fact that resisting change is a part of being an aggressive driver.
 
Concept 3: Why Intervention Hasn’t Worked
 A. Drivers feel that they need to maintain the risk of homeostasis phenomenon.
 B. When roads are made safer such as cutting the trees that block visibility while making that turn, drivers tend to balance risk with safety by driver faster.
 C. This concept points out interesting aspects of why intervention hasn’t worked. I didn’t believe this concept at first but the more I thought about it the more I thought the reason why I was driving faster while making that turn was really because I could see better now. 
 
My Homepage: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2005/paselio/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/
 
 2. http://www.drivers.com/article/168/
 
 3.http://www.healthylife.net/body/roadRageTest.html
 
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