Psy 409 9/25/06

Neuropsychology and Driving Psychology

Lester Papalii

 

 

Instructions for this activity are found at: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/g25-oral1.htm 
Instructor: Dr. Leon James

 

Peter Rothe, Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press). pp.10-34.

 

     I.  The importance of neuropsychology and higher brain functions.

 

 A.  Clinical neuropsychology is an applied science concerned with the behavioral      expression of brain dysfunction.

 

 B.  Neuropsychology continues to change.

  

C.     A neuropsychological examination could answer questions about a person’s ability to drive a car.

 

II.                Neuropsychology and Screening systems

 

A.     The use of medical and psychological tests is intended to protect people from risks created by dangerous drivers.

 

B.     Medical intervention cannot be imposed on people if its usefulness has not been clearly demonstrated.

 

C.     The risk of accident is greater among the elderly and younger drivers.

 

 

III.             An improved screening system

  

A.     For young drivers to what extent is the driver’s personality a factor.

 

B.     The relationship between the brain and driving may be answered through the limbic system.

 

C.     Visual perception tests may be the best measures for stroke victims who want to continue driving.

 

D.     Neuropsycological assessment is a good alternative to old ophthalmologic exams.

 

IV.Supporting Fallible human behavior.

A.     Getting enough sleep is a very important tool in safe driving.

 

B.     Handedness must be taken into account in neuropsychological assessments.

 

      V.  Social and Cultural Experiences

 

A.     Society can place expectations on drivers that interfere with their ability to drive safely.

 

VI.              The fifteen widely known aspects of driving that act as stressors.

 

A.     Immobility, constriction, regulation, lack of control, being put in danger, territoriality, diversity, multi tasking, denying our mistakes, cynicism, loss of objectivity, venting, unpredictability, ambiguity, lack of emotional intelligence.

 

VII.           Road Rage and Aggressive Driving

 

  1. Men are more likely than women to participate in aggressive driving.
  2. Driving stress can have an effect on our health.
  3. People are unwilling to scrutinize their own bad driving habits. 

 

VIII.        Why intervention hasn’t worked.

 

  1. A critical aspect of driving is the driver’s ability to balance risk and safety.

 

IX.              From traffic safety to driving psychology

 

  1. Driving manuals and training only provide brief sections on driver attitude and driver error.

 

  1. Driving psychology:  1. Driving is a complex of behaviors acting together as cultural norms. 2. Driving norms exist in three domains. 3. Driving norms are transmitted by parents, other adults and various media forms.   

 

Related Links:

 

  1. http://www.lag.net/~robey/drivers.html 

An interesting website that classifies bad drivers and what makes them tick based upon the authors observations.

 

  1. http://www.roadrage.com/

 A site that sells road rage cards that you show to other drivers when you want to make a statement about their driving.

 

  1. http://www.drivers.com/article/168/

An article that questions if road rage is hype or reality. 

 

My Home Page:  http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2006/papalii/papalii-home.htm

 

Class Home Page:  www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/classhome-g25.htm