Psych 409a: September 25, 2006
Road Rage Affecting Other Parts of Our Life And Ways To Cope With Road Rage
By: Kirk Ishida
Instructions for this activity are found at:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/g25-oral1.htmInstructor: Dr. Leon James
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.
I. Road Rage definition expanding to other parts in our culture
A. Parking lot rage
1. When vehicles take up a lot of room it is often a cause of rage
a. vehicles have been given fines for not staying within these lines
2. There is many types of parking lot rage examples found in http://www.drdriving.org/rages/parking.htm.
B. Sidewalk rage
C. Surf rage
1. Has been happening all over the world
2. California is even trying to pass a law that states no one can claim wave.
D. Air rage
1. Inability to cope with congested traffic
2. It is so common that we don’t think of it
E. Neighbor rage
F. Shopping mall rage
G. Workplace rage
H. Cafeteria rage
I. Customer rage
J. Customer rage
K. Keyboard rage
L. Desk rage
II. Anger
A. Used for
1. Negotiate dominance levels
2. Expressing aggression
B. Venting
1. There is a myth that it is healthy to vent
a. Little evidence to show that venting is cathartic
b. Some scientist says it makes us feel better is because we are told it does.
2. Venting is not healthy
a. Increases stress
b. Decreases immune system functioning
C. Holding it in
1. Shows that we have a choice to hold it in or express it
2. We can change our perception of the situation
III. Civility
A. George Washington Rules of Civility translated to the traffic world
1. Actions done to others should be done with a sign of respect
2. Show signs of sweetness and mildness to motorists
3. Don’t use insulting language
4. Always use your driving conscience
B. All parts of society should take place on making driving safer
IV. Protecting yourself from other drivers (some examples)
A. Don’t use obscene gestures
B. Use your horn sparingly
C. Don’t tailgate
1. If you are tailgated make add more reaction time to the car in front of you so you can compensate for the driver behind you.
D. Assume other drivers’ mistakes aren’t personal
1. They also might have factors that you are unaware of and are impairing them.
E. Be polite and courteous even if the other driver isn’t
F. Avoid conflict at all cost
G. Don’t block the passing lane
1. Preventing other to pass might make them angry and they might try to get back at you.
Links
1. Defensive Driving: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/DefensiveDriving/Drive-Safe-With-Uncle-Bob.htm - I used this article to further explain the rules of protecting yourself from other drivers.
2. Drdriving: http://www.drdriving.org/rages/ - I used this article to further expand on what is the situation with the road rage incidents.
3. Venting: http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/vent.html - I used this article to find out more information about venting and if it helps or not.
My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2006/ishida/ishida-home.htm
Class Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/classhome-g25.htm