Psy 409 11/06/05

Psy 409, 11/06/05

My Eighth Outline of Assigned Readings

By Kristina Peltz

Driving Identities

Peter Rothe, Editor, Jeffrey Nash & Gary Brinker. Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. University of Alberta Press. 2002. pg. 97-104 “Driving Identities over the Lifespan.” Mike Boyes & Phil Litke.

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

I. Identity

a. Identity is personal. Formation involves both psychological issues of preference and social support and validation of potentially available identity options. Carries certain moral implications. Once an identity has been taken up, it brings with it role obligations and duties= honor codes, or moral codes that detail which behaviors are to be exhibited in which situations.

b. Example: young male driver who wants to keep his identity of being seen as a fast driver with quick reflexes. He has to take risky alternatives to complete driving tasks or else his identity will be compromised.

c. I thought this was interesting because most traffic-safety initiatives focus on individual, not other psychosocial factors.

II. Identity in middle aged drivers

a. Identity is of less obvious concern in middle age than in adolescence, but identity reference groups are still present.

b. Examples: stereotypical middle-aged male going out and buying a red sports car. MADD- affirmed immorality of honor code in adult population. TAC advertisements in Australia.

c. I think this is interesting because we commonly think of identity problems in adolescence and middle aged.

III. Young children-foundations of identity

a. Although children do very little conscious identity work, much of what may serve as foundation for later identity is often taken for granted.

b. Parents and teachers have the opportunity to influence a number of basic safety behaviors. Example: Canadian Kidestrian program

c. I think this is important because it may be possible to raise intolerance of risky behaviors in driving at a young age so that when the children are old enough to drive, they are safer drivers.