Report 2:
My Understanding of Driving
Psychology
By: Chris Nerona
Instructions for this
report are at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/409a-g22-report2.htm
The Question I am answering is Question
#1.
Question 1:
Consider Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the Lecture Notes, in the
Section on Driving Psychology Theory and Charts at www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/409a-g22-lecture-notes.htm#Charts. Consult the article from which the Tables
were taken. (b) Using your own words, describe the three behavioral domains and
levels of a driver (nine cells). (c) Illustrate each domain with your own
driving behavior skills and errors, or that of another driver you know well, or
a driver in a particular movie. (d) Make up a "driving personality
makeover" plan for yourself (or another driver you know well), relating
specifically to negative thoughts you
have about other road users. (e) Discuss the problems you anticipate in
carrying out such a plan successfully. (f) Any other comments you wish to make.
(B) The three behavioral domains are categorizations of
expression whether they are indeed expressed or repressed. Those three driving behaviors are the
affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor.
The affective
driving behavior is somewhat passive in both the positive and negative
sense. A driver possessing this
categorized behavior tends to be submissive to the atmosphere allowing the
environmental influences to suppress actions that may surface. When this driver reacts in a positive manner,
it’s as if he feels endangered by the environment, whether it be a rural road
or on a congested highway. He will
control his actions to prevent the looming threats of another. In the negative light, the affective driver
is one who probably mumbles an obscene comment under his breath, still however
unable to carry out his actions due to the potential consequences.
The second driving behavioral categorize is listed as cognitive. The cognitive driver already has, what is
defined, as an affective foundation, with the addition of a little more driving
experience. These drivers have similar
feelings as the affective drivers but these people will actually proceed
personally yet controlled upon instincts to alleviate (in the positive
definition) or even aggravate (in the negative context) potential consequences.
The last driving category is easily defined as the
exaggerated cognitive behavior or the complete contradiction of the affective
driver, and this is labeled as sensorimotor. This driver goes to great lengths for their
voice to be heard on the road. In both
positive and negative contexts, this driver makes his/her actions apparent to
other drivers. Their gestures from a
positive viewpoint are warm and possibly forgiving, but in a negative
perspective their gestures may be offensive and down right rude.
In addition to the three behavioral domains there are 3
major levels that include three subcategories of a driver. To simplify the ensuing definitions of the
nine levels of a driver, please just return to the text above regarding what I
had said about the three behavioral domains of driving. A complete understanding of the three
behavioral domains will simplify the ensuing definitions of a driver.
The three main categories to the nine levels of a driver are surprisingly, affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor. Remember I clarified the affective behavior
as someone who is passive aggressive, that feels the environmental stimuli but
do not act upon their instincts. The
cognitive behavior is similar to the affective behavior with one main
difference. A cognitive behaviorist acts
upon his/her emotions in a very controlled fashion, usually that equates into
verbal assaults or compliments. Lastly
the final behavior is the sensorimotor behavior. The mainstream definition of this behavior is
emotional out lashes that could potentially be physical but is more often
verbal at least.
Now that we summarized the main categories, I think life is
going to be much easier. To each driving
domain there are three subcategories, per say, that compose the nine levels of a
driver. The three subcategories are responsibility, safety, and proficiency.
Responsibility
in the affective positive sense is best described as thoughts of doing
good deeds, nothing more, nothing less.
In the negative light, the affective responsible driver is one who
thinks he/she is the only person on the road.
When responsibility is referred to in the cognitive sense it is
refers to exaggerated replays in the mind that could either be positive or
negative. Lastly, responsibility in the sensorimotor
context deals with the actual expressed feelings of content or discontent. An example of a responsible, positive
sensorimotor driver is one who feels happy when they drive.
Safety
is the second sublevel to the nine levels of a driver. In contrast to the responsible portion of a
driver, safety actually inspects driving behavior and maneuvers, while
responsibility in the driver context attempts to describe the mind’s behavior,
so the cognitive aspects of driving. The
affectively positive safe driver is one who exhibits genuine concern for
others, which results in defensive driving maneuvers and habits. On the other hand, the affectively negative
driver shouldn’t be stereotyped as bad!
This driver is still somewhat controlled in their actions however when
the opportunity presents itself they go after it swiftly yet carefully. Safety in the cognitive viewpoint is
simply personal principles dealing with the mind that could either be positive
or negative. The easiest defining
behavior dealing with safety is sensorimotor, because these actions of
selflessness and selfishness are the most apparent to the driving
population. These actions are readily
seen throughout the course of a day and either promotes goodness or frustration
on the road.
Lastly we have the proficient
sublevel slice of the metaphorical driving pie.
Not surprisingly we have both positive and negative characteristics
towards the three main driving behaviors.
Let’s get started with the sensorimotor proficient driver shall
we? Again, when we deal with the
sensorimotor behavior, we deal with the expressions that are most visible to
the public. The positive actions of the
sensorimotor driver are almost illustrated as the ideal driver on the road. Negatively speaking, this driver reminds you
of the typical unintentional bad ass
on the road. On the complete opposite
end of the spectrum you have the proficient affective driver. In the affirmative manner this affective
driver has the utmost respect for the enforcing officers. In the negative context, one can only
imagine. Cognitively speaking the
proficient positive driver is one who’s all there up in the mind. They know the rules of the road, even the
unwritten ones and vice versa for the negative aspect.
(C) Identification of the affective, cognitive, and
sensorimotor driver.
AFFECTIVE
DRIVER: I personally can attest to the affective driver not only
with its behaviors but even with the sublevels of safety, responsibility, and
proficiency. USUALLY, when I am driving
my truck, I strip myself away from the realities of the real world and expose
myself to having a possibly enjoyable ride.
It is the environment, for me, who decide whether or not I become a
positive or negative driver. The major
characteristic that makes me confide in being an affective driver is the
repression of emotions. There are
momentary lapses in judgment where I verbalize what’s on my mind that should
shove me into another category quite swiftly, however for the most part I am indeed
an affective driver.
COGNITIVE
DRIVER: I feel like I’m going to shame this person for categorizing
them into this mold of a driver, however as much denial is apparent there’s
still no running away from the truth. My
mother is the closest person I could relate as a cognitive driver. She is experienced as a driver making her
fully comprehensible of the road and her own mind relating to her driving
methods. Unlike myself, she verbally
speaks her mind occasionally and don’t believe that her driving habits
attribute to others on the road.
SENSORIMOTOR
DRIVER: So often you would search for a sensorimotor driver that
exudes the negative aspects instead of the positive simply due to that fact
that negative events are much easier to recall, well at least for some like
myself. So, I would have to identify my
brother as the closest person I know to a sensorimotor driver. I chose my brother largely in part because of
the type of vehicle he drives, a monster truck, not literally but
metaphorically speaking. Majority of the
time he is a cognitive driver but similar to me, there are more momentary
lapses of judgment that make him more of a sensorimotor driver.
(D) It’s time for a MAKEOVER, a driving makeover that is.
AFFECTIVE
MAKEOVER: For myself, I think the easiest way for me to relieve the
negative points in my driving is simply to express them. I think the biggest reason why my affective
drivers find themselves in conflict is a lack of expression of their
feelings. I could verbalize the way I
feel in a positive manner to alleviate the weight of those feelings, and still
manage to obtain a peaceful road environment.
For example when someone cut me off the other day to make an exit, I
should have said “It could’ve been another half an hour for that person to
reach his destination with all this traffic.”
COGNITIVE
MAKEOVER: For my mother, I would tell her to bring a tape recorder
and record every derogative comment she makes and replay her blips of outbursts
when she is calm and understanding to what she’s about to hear. I think beneficial supplements would include
thoughts from close family on her driving.
The additional supplement I would recommend would for those families to
drive with my mother and express their instincts and feelings at that time so she
can grasp what sort of ambiance she is creating when she’s behind the wheel.
SENSORIMOTOR
MAKEOVER: The most efficient way to describe his makeover is to
literally put him another’s shoes, or in this case, another’s car, thus my
recommendation of driving in a smaller vehicle.
One that does not have power, belittles your inhibitions to overpower
the midsize sedan, and allows you to realize the terror you place in other
people’s mind when you drive recklessly and a bit too assertive.
(E) Makeover obstacles…
The biggest obstacle I first would have to hurdle over would
be bringing the person to understand that they indeed have a driving problem
whether it is minute or not.
Self-recognition is the key to changing behaviors, especially those that
have been established for perhaps a decade or two. The only other hindrance I foresee would be
cost, particularly with my brother. All
the vehicles in our family are made to make us feel like the king or queen of
the road, and to go out and buy the stereotypical midsize sedan would be
detrimental to our bank accounts, plural.
Other than that readjustment should be a piece of cake no???
Question 3:
(a) Discuss these two
Web sites: drivers.com vs. drdriving.org by
first describing their overall appearance and purpose. (b) What are their main
differences? Be sure to consider at least these areas: (i) articles (ii)
newsletters (iii) style (iv) probable audience (v) public relations or policy
(vi) advertising (vii) size (viii) ranking (ix) Other sites that link to each.
(c) Any other comments you wish to make.
Drivers.com
website…
(vi) Unlike the DrDriving website,
Drivers.com was a free flowing and interesting website that seemed to be more
interested in the advertising it placed upon its website, as if it were a
business. Grant it that everyone is in
it for the sake of making money, but when you try to mask an issue like driving
safety why would you powder its appearance when vital information is readily
available to prevent harsh road conditions?
Nonetheless, there were some good points. For example, the (iii) style was similar to
that of the DrDriving website with one discernible difference. There was not one trace of the article unless
you clicked its hyperlink, which opened up the entire article with a fresh new
page. (ix) There were numerous links to advertisements
and what nots, all I can say is that there were a bunch of them. Nice and organized. (i and iv) Its content was a bit vague which
made it easily potty break material intended for people of all ages who
drive. (vii) Off the bat you could
imagine that this website was going to be huge loaded with just as much
propaganda as there is information.
However the structure of the website was easier to navigate and well
organized that beginning drivers to professional connoisseurs could find what
they needed. So I would give this
website 8 out of 10 simply because it was simply easy to navigate, making it
easier for those who are impatient.
Drdriving.org
website…
The drdriving website was easily navigable and the keyword
for this website: SIMPLE. Brief yet
insightful tidbits of information was fashionably formatted so the potential
viewer [ (iv) the age of the potential viewer ranged from government officials,
to law enforcement, to perhaps rookie drivers] could scroll down and eventually
encounter what he/she was searching for.
(i) The articles were nicely displayed; however they were a bit lengthy
that sort of dissuaded my interest.
Although these articles were elongated, they were crammed with purpose
and meaning and the ones that guided readers to read because of its relevancy
was easily bookmarked to a link that took viewers to its own page. (ii) Throughout the swamp of information
leaked a couple of newsletters in a section titled article of the month. (iii)
The style in which it was formatted was very placid and similar to the
articles, long. After reading a good
portion of the article I stumbled across a link that made the website more
convenient to navigation. (iv)
Advertising for this website was pertinent to the material it was trying to
preach, safer driving conditions and a supportive driver. Dr. James’ and Dr. Nahl’s book was the
biggest advertising I could spot throughout the array of information. The other popular advertisement was titled
Road Rageous which I believe was a link to a website. (ix) This brings me to the links of the website. There were a few, but yet again, very
relevant links towards the website. One
for example was a site that cited the statistics of car crashes. Statistics whether it be positive or negative
are both realistically alarming granted its validity. To finish out the evaluation on the DrDriving
website, I shall give it its (viii) ranking.
Because it was easily yet lengthy format I would say I would give this
website a 7 out of a possible 10.
Question 5:
(a) Consider Table 5 in the Lecture Notes, in
the Section on Driving Psychology Theory and Charts at www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy21/409a-g21-lecture-notes.htm#Charts
(b) Consult the article from which the Table was taken. (c) Copy and paste the
table into your file. Now delete the examples in each cell and replace them
with your own examples that you make up. (d) Discuss why driving is such a big
problem in all societies and why no effective solutions have yet been found for
them. (e) Discuss the solutions offered by Dr. Leon James (www.DrDriving.org). What likelihood is there that his approach
will be adopted? Explain. (f) Any other comments you wish to make.
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Table 5 |
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(D) Why driving is a gigantic problem
across societies?
Driving to most people feel it’s a right
they have once satisfied when they age into the legal driving age whatever and
wherever that may be. I for one followed
the majority train of thought, thinking that I’ve waited long enough to obtain
my license that no one is gonna tell me how to drive. And that’s where, I believe, the driving
problem first rears its ugly head.
People have the mindset that when they’re off driver’s education
programs, it’s like a newfound freedom.
When this newfound freedom interacts with those other drivers on the
road the two ideals of freedom collide, with no one particular driver willing
to back down. With no one conceding to
the other the malicious cycle repeats itself.
When one person backs down however, it is still not substantial because
one is the minority to the millions of people who still have their clutch stuck
up somewhere. It is a starting point in
the goal to kill the vicious cycle of driving.
(E) Dr. Driving
solutions
Dr. James aka
Dr. Driving illustrates on his website a few steps down the path of peaceful
roads. The first baby step to the
utopian driving society is acknowledgement of a personal driving error. The second step in the right direction, which
he mentions to be key, is driver self-witnessing. Lastly he mentions modifying that error. This approach has failed with today’s society
because of the sheer evidence of vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. If this approach succeeds in the modern
world, we would see a drastic improvement in mental health, to start, and safer
roads across the nation. However, the
one main impediment I foresee is that people do not realize or wish not to
realize that they have a driving problem, and everyone does whether it is
miniscule or grandiose, everyone has an aspect of their driving that they could
improve. Every individual is the culprit
for the collective society’s failure for safer and pleasant drives.
Question 7:
(a) Our textbook Road Rage and Aggressive Driving has exercises in several chapters.
Do the following four exercises: (i) Exercise on scenario analysis on p. 129;
(ii) Exercise on self-assessment on p.134; (iii) Exercise on identifying
assumptions on p. 131; and (iv) Exercise on negative vs. positive driving on p.
122. (b) What were your reactions to the exercises? (c) Discuss how these
exercises help you to become more aware of yourself as a driver? (d) Do some of
the exercises with another driver you know. How do they help you understand
some principles of driving psychology mentioned in the book? (e) Any other
comments you wish to make.
(B) Reactions to
the textbook Road Rage and Aggressive
Driving
The exercises in
the textbook were helpful to understand the emotions that impede safe driving
conditions. However, because it was in a
textbook that is out of its context within which it is trying to illustrate,
for me, it was simply self-acknowledgement of these emotions. I believe that because it was not placed in
direct context within the driving realm, it was a bit hard to picture. People learn in all different types of
environment and methods and when it does not require book smarts I would prefer
to learn via the hands on method.
(C)
Self-reflection on my driving
These exercises
provided a sturdy foundation for me when I am on the road. A lot of people lack, what I believe to be, a
necessary understanding of emotions.
These exercises are beneficial to all driving levels because if you can
rapidly diagnose the mood a particular driver is in, then you can rely on the
foundation automatically to diffuse or infuse the potential situation.