Psy 409, 10/3/05

My Fourth Outline of Assigned Readings

By Kristina Peltz

Road Rage Personalities

 

James, Dr. Leon and Nahl, Dr. Diane.Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare.”  Prometheus Books: New York 2000. Pages 84-96.

 

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

 

I.                    Automotive vigilante

a.       This type of personality is someone who is a bully against other motorists and presents a constant stream of verbal abuse, offensive gestures, and/or even threatening maneuvers with the vehicle. Also this person denies responsibility in accidents, or when caught by police, and counterattacks others.

b.      A lot of drivers could be put into this category because many feel that they should punish other drivers, therefore they are vigilantes. This can be seen everyday: for example, someone who tries to force others to obey the law by driving the speed limit in the left lane even though others want to drive faster.

c.       I have often done this and felt that I need to let a bad driver know he/she is a bad driver in my opinion or even let them know that I think they are an idiot, so I guess I have been an automotive vigilante.

II.                 Rushing maniac

a.       This personality type is characterized by a need to avoid slowing down and anger against anyone who causes them to slow down.

b.      I think this is one of the most common driving obsessions these days. This can be seen by the great numbers of drivers who are speeding, but I don’t think this is often connected to road rage, except in extreme instances.

c.       I try to avoid being a rushing maniac by leaving extra early so that I am not in a rush, but I know it is easy to excuse breaking the law or bad driving behavior by saying something like, “Well, I’m in a hurry…” to deny responsibility.

III.               Scofflaw

a.       This is someone who assumes they are above the law and entitled to break regulations.

b.      I think this is a common concept as can be seen by the great numbers of people who break the law by any means, whether it be speeding, failing to yield, or failing to signal. Lots of people just don’t care and think they can get away with whatever they want.

c.       I myself know speeding is illegal, but I still do it often so I guess that makes me a scofflaw. However, I try not to speed more than 9 miles over the speed limit because my mother taught me not to, in order to avoid getting ticketed.

 

Related links:

http://www.badsamaritan.com/archives/2001/10/bread_peace_land_and_directionals.php

http://www.drdriving.org/articles/vigilante.htm

http://www.scofflaws.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index&myfaq=yes&id_cat=1&categories=About+Us

 

My Home Page: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2005/peltz/home.htm

Class Home Page: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/peonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm