Instructions for this activity are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/g25-oral1.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

Citation: Leon James and Diane Nahl (2000). Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare. (Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books). Reviewing pages 32 to 45.

1. Anger: main method individuals use to negotiate dominance level in power games.

A. Darwin’s Theory: anger in humans are no different than the rage reflex of animals when they are attacked or threatened

-humans have judgment and choice

-proves than anger is learned

B. Theory that Venting Anger is Healthy

-medical research concludes that venting instead increases stress and depresses immune system functioning

-anger kills

C. Emotional Brain

-leads to emotionally challenged behavior like retaliating

-control

2. Emotional Literacy

A. become aware of and monitor their emotions and thoughts behind the wheel

B. acquire information about oneself

C. lack of this: cannot recognize aggressiveness or feel responsibility

-threefold injury

A. injury to their bodies or cars

B. injury to their mental state and happiness

C. injury to their nation by contributing to social conflict and disunity

3. Changes

A. aggressive driver to supportive driver

B. cooperation and caring instead of competition and hostility

C. stay in control of the vehicle and driving situations

4. Conclusion

I believe that it is extremely important to shift from being an aggressive driver to a supportive driver. I know that I tend to yell, drive crazily, or show other types of aggressive behavior when I am in crazy traffic. Now that I am in this class I notice that I am being more aware of my actions when I am behind the wheel. I agree with the fact that anger is a learned habit. I think distress maybe innate because that emotion is from birth but anger is more of a coping emotion or a substitute in place of real feelings. I was surprised by reading that there is medical research that proves that venting actually causes more stress and decreases immune functioning. I always thought that venting was better for the soul. But, I guess I could relate because I was in an argument with my boyfriend and I actually got sick physically. From now on I will most definitely minimize my venting of problems until it is completely necessary.

Links:

1. http://www.linguasphere.org/dictionary/n-2816-anger.html

This site gives various thorough definitions of the word anger. This site helps give a better understanding of the word anger.

2. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/aggressive/aggproplanner/page05.htm

This web page gives some real life examples of aggressive driving. After reading this you can know what situations to avoid. Also realize when you may have been driving aggressively without even recognizing it.

3.http://www.personal.umich.edu/~bbushman/PSPB02.pdf#search=%22research %20on%20venting%20anger%22

This site takes you to a paper on research if venting actually adds gasoline to the fire in situations. I found it really interesting and it shows that maybe theories our culture has are actually very misconstrued.

My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2006/alcover/alcover-home.htm

Class Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/classhome-g25.htm