Psy 409a,
November 21st 2005
My Third Outline of Assigned
By Sara Tsukimura
Peter Rothe,
Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer.
(
Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
I. Predictability vs. Unpredictability
a) Definition: the two conflicting structural components of
driving. Predictability, like
maintaining a consistent speed or making a complete stop at all stop signs
allows for safe and secure driving conditions.
Unpredictability, like driving at inconsistent speeds or
changing lanes without signaling creates a dangerous and stressful driving
environment which can lead to collisions.
Dr. James documents “fifteen
widely known aspects of driving that act as stressors” that “provoke hostility
and aggressiveness on the road”. They
include: immobility, constriction, regulation, lack of
control, being put in danger, territoriality, diversity,
multi-tasking, denying our mistakes, cynicism, loss of
objectivity, venting, unpredictability, ambiguity, and
lack of emotional intelligence.
*It is important to note
that a driver’s reaction to any of these stressors can lead to predictability
or unpredictability on the road.
b) Psychological/Cultural Significance:
I realized that what it boils down to is the driver’s personality
and how he/she deals with the unpredictability of driving. An article on Discovery Health.com deals with
personality types and impact with response to stress. It compares Type A personalities with Type B
personalities and how each may react to stress, how people may react more or
less to stress based on their experiences in the womb, and how negative reaction
to stress can lead to stress-related illnesses.
c) Opinion: Although the
concept itself is simple I never thought of predictability and unpredictability
in such an in-depth way before. When I
examine the opposing ideas from the viewpoint that everyone is going to react
to stressors differently while driving, it truly opens a can of worms. It also poses the question, how can we
consistently react positively and be supportive drivers when there are so many
personalities out there?
II. Aggressive Driving = cultural norm, not deviant
behavior
a) Definition: it is common
for aggressive drivers to be put in the same category with dangerous people
like car thieves or bank robbers.
However, based on how drivers think and feel behind the wheel, it
appears to be more of a cultural norm rather than a deviant behavior.
As children we observe and
absorb hostile driving norms. But, as
was mentioned in the previous concept, there are factors such as personality,
gender, education, age, demeanor, and conduct
that will determine whether or not drivers will express their road rage or
aggressive driving.
b) Psychological/Cultural Significance:
in 1998 Dr. James completed a web study of 2010 respondents who had
to respond to itemized lists of behaviors considered aggressive/illegal. They also made self witnessing reports such
as “I sometimes engage in this behavior”.
Findings: Men engage in aggressive behaviors more than
women do, and the percentage differences were statistically significant for all
items. However, research has shown that
it is much more common for women to engage in aggressive driving
behaviors. There appears to be an
expanding permissiveness towards the expression of anger behind the wheel
(James 2002).
c) Opinion: I wasn’t surprised that men were found to
be more aggressive than women; however I do believe that the gender gap has decreased. It does appear to be a cultural trend of
expressive road rage, and it isn’t something limited to testosterone-filled
males. I think if the survey was
conducted again, males would still be considered more aggressive but maybe not
by much.
III. Why intervention hasn’t worked: external environmental forces vs. internal individual forces
a) Definition: External
environmental forces are things such as better roads and law enforcement which
aims for greater safety and less risk.
Internal individual forces are the pressures to get to locations on
time, or the feeling of needing to get ahead of other drivers which lessens
safety and maintains high risk among drivers.
b) Psychological/Cultural Significance:
Despite the increased number of external environmental forces being
made, research shows that there are a consistent number of deaths and injuries
in the
c) Opinion: Aggressive driving
is certainly a widespread phenomenon and problem. I believe much of the research we have
examined and read has pinpointed key aspects of how it is developed and
perpetuated. We also have been exposed
to many ideas and solutions to remedying aggressive driving. However, I feel for drastic improvements to
be made for the future, we must implement these ideas from childhood, starting
from how we display our aggressive driving towards our children to education
for our children at a young age.
My
home page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/tsukimura/home.htm
The G23 class home page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm
Related Web Links:
http://health.discovery.com/centers/stress/articles/pnstress/pnstress.html
-personality type and reaction to stress
http://www.insurance.com/Article.aspx/Are_Men_Better_Drivers_than_Women/artid/259
-insurance site comparing gender and insurance quotes
http://psyc.queensu.ca/target/ -Dr. Wilde study on Risk Homeostasis (book
called “Target Risk”)