Outline of my first oral presentation

Aggressive Driving and Mental Health

This is a presentation of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving

Dr. Leon James and Dr. Diane Nahl, Published by Prometheus Books, 2000 Pages 57-66

By Brandi McWade

Instructions for this oral presentation are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/g22-oral.htm

I. GENDER EFFECT

A) MEN

a. Experience more rage, impatience, danger and violence.

b. More men self report doing each aggressive driving behavior more than women.

EX) Chasing other cars in pursuit and Getting into physical fights

c. More likely to be involved in aggressive driving accidents.

B) WOMEN

a. Experience more positive emotions while driving than men.

b. The number of fatal traffic accidents involving women drivers has increased 18% in last 20 years.

EX) Increase in women in the workplace = more women on the road. Women have a high level of responsibility with a low level of emotional support for their hard work.

c. Personally, I’m not sure if I agree with that reasoning, I felt it was stereotyping women, but I guess it works.

C) AUTO INSURANCE

a. Rates are less expensive for young women than boys.

b. Boys pay 18% higher than the base rate.

c. Girls rates are rising since they are becoming statistically more aggressively.

EX) My brother pays $800 more than me because he is a male.

II. DRIVING IMPAIRED

A) PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT

a. Most common factors

b. The driver chooses to drive under theses conditions of impairment.

c. Driving involves the coordination of body movements and mental judgments.

d. Any of the physical impairments can disrupt this process.

EX) Sleep deprivation leads to closing your eyes or irritability and risk taking behavior.

e. 15,000 people die every year in car crashes due to drug impaired driving.

B) EMOTIONAL IMPAIRMENT

a. More difficult to manage because it is spontaneous

b. Most common factors

c. Driving stress is no different than any other type of stress in our lives.

EX) Longer work commute = higher blood pressure

e. Lowered inhibitions

EX) convertibles or jeep drivers have less aggressive on the road.

III. SELF CONTROL BEHIND THE WHEEL

A) TWO COMPONENTS

a. self appraisal

b. self regulation

B) EMOTIONAL AWARNESS

a. most people lack it.

b. If we are unaware of our emotions/mood, our thoughts might become negative.

C) 3 TECHNIQUES

1. Postpone

2. Avoid

3. Redirect

D) CHECKLIST OF AGGRESSIVE THOUGHTS

a. When drivers become aggressive by tailgating me, I enjoy slowing down to pay them back.

b. I don’t think passengers should tell me how to drive and I let them know if they try.

c. When I’m late I have no patience and tailgate slower motorists in my way.

Helpful web sites:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info/InMyOpinion/WhatIsImpairment.html

http://www.health.org/nongovpubs/bac-chart/

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459s98/hattori/report1.html