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 111 to 150.

I. Anger intensifies aggressiveness and therefore judgment becomes impaired

1. Usually when we are angry we will “vent” which causes “proofs” and “criminals” charges against one another

A. Than the more one is convinced of being “right” the less likely they will be willing to back out of the coming showdown

B. This angry aggression will cause and explode into an impulsive and sometimes violent action. This usually leads to deep regret, embarrassment, financial loss, depression, injury or death

2. Many aggressive driving exchanges begin with a reaction to endangerment

A. Threat and danger produces excitement in the body and anticipation in the mind

B. But this is a momentary reaction that will quickly subside unless you keep it going by “venting”

C. Unless we teach ourselves emotional intelligence, when we are angry we will lose the ability to see alternative explanations

3. The best way to protect ourselves from rage and aggressiveness is to inhibit venting and let the feelings dissipate

4. My Reaction

I feel that venting does keep the angry there and does make you result in aggressive behavior and impulsive actions. I think everyone should be able to relate to this in situations other than driving. For example, fighting a significant other. Did you vent to your friends or family? Felt like you were the one who was “right” and therefore broke up with them? I know a lot of people who use venting as a stress reliever but what we need to realize is that this is not the right tool to reduce anger. I think that we all need to work on becoming emotionally intelligent. Not only will it help us on the road, but in our everyday life as well.

II. Three Levels on Emotional Intelligence

1. Level One-Oppositional Driving

A. In this level we are unfit to drive on the road because we have negative feelings which are made worse by irrational though patterns

B. We exhibit intolerance which is defined as thinking they are always are at fault while we excuse our mistakes

C. This self serving bias interferes with our ability to be objective and logical

2. Level Two-Defensive Driving

A. Defensive driving teaches drivers to concentrate on the safety of the vehicle, driver, and passengers

B. This helps reduce irrational thoughts and encourages more logical thoughts

C. Defensive driving is more mindful but it leaves us in a state of competition and suspicion, and does not guarantee we will not have negative thoughts

3. Level Three-Supportive Driving

A. This level overcomes the disadvantages in the first two levels

B. Supportive driving enables drivers to manage other motorists and traffic using a positive approach leaving out all of the negativity and defensiveness

C. To become a supportive driver you must constantly observe your behavior on the road and keep a record of your thoughts and emotions that accompany your actions and create a positive change

4. My Reaction

I think that these three levels are important to learn about. I like that they broke it up into three steps because like many things in life we need to work slowly to get to the ultimate goal. I think that I as driver am at level two and have improved since the beginning of this class. I think that when I am on the road I am more considerate to other drivers. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. I am really trying to work at becoming a supportive driver and hopefully one day I will.

III. What Leads to a Road Rage Tragedy

1. Road rage exchanges often begin as verbal road rage

2. But these negative feelings can either subside as soon as the hormonal symptoms of anger or fear dissipate in the blood system but can be brought back in a minute if there is a trigger

3. Than there is a cycle of hostility between the people involved

4. My Feelings

I have been in a few road rage exchanges throughout my lifetime and I have to say that they do not make the situation any better. In most cases they only make it worse. I just have to say that I am lucky to have these road rage situations to be only confrontational and non-violent. From time to time I hear of deaths or major injuries that happen due to road rage and I think that people need to be more aware of how dangerous road rage is. I think that it is our job to educate more people.

IV. Three Links

1. http://members.tripod.com/kanchanD/anger1.htm

This link takes you to an essay about anger and how we are taught since childhood that we should vent our feelings. It talks about misdirected anger and how by venting we are constantly listing the wrongs in our mind which keeps us feeling negatively. I think that this site gives you a more inside look at anger and venting.

2. http://www.umass.edu/fsap/issues/anger.html

This site is full of information on anger. It defines anger and talks about a four step way to control and handle anger. The four steps is to admit it, explore it, express it, and than drop it. I think that this was very interesting and is a fun and informational read.

3. http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/mcbride_main.html

This site is just the story and cover of a murder trial that was caused by road rage. I think that this story will make you realize how real road rage is. It may also encourage you to start controlling your aggression more.

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