Driving Psychology:  Theory and Application
by SAYO YOSHINO

 

A link to Instructions for Your Report 1
            www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy20/g20lecturenotes409a.htm 

1. Preface

In the first day of class for my driving psychology course, professor James informed us that there are more than 40,000 deaths per year, 6 million crash injuries per year, 100 billion aggressive driving exchanges per day and an unknown number of human suffering caused by driving stress.  I was struck by the fact that huge numbers of people are involved in unfortunate driving incidents.  Since driving cars is a necessary part of our life nowadays, it is inevitable that the population of car users continues to grow every year.  In order to change the statistical data which was stated earlier, a study of driving psychology is important. 

 

There are three basic principles in driving psychology: 

1. Driving is a complicated habit which involves cultural norm behavior

2. Driving habits can be divided into three domains which are affective, cognitive and sensorimotor

3. Driving habits can be influenced by parents, friends and media

     

 

It is very exciting for me to be a student in the generation 20 of Driving Psychology course.  This is the first time ever in my life to learn about driving psychology and how to publish my own web page.  Hence, I am feeling like I am starting a new journey in the psychology field and the informational technology field.  I have been surprised about my professor, Dr. Leon James’s research findings and all prior generational students’ deep understanding and hard work about the topic of driving psychology.  In contrast to my professor and most prior generations of students, my understanding of driving psychology is still immature as I have yet to learn how to drive.  Through this semester, hopefully, I will gain knowledge in driving psychology that will help my future driving career and other people in this society.

 

Here are 3 students’ reports which caught my attention while I was exploring all prior generational web pages in driving psychology.

           

1.         http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409as99/manibusan/report3.html

       Title:           Definitions of Traffic Psychology: What A Driver Knows by a G10 student

 

       Summary:  

The students gathered definitions of either driving psychology or traffic psychology from 5 different generational student reports.  For instance, one student’s definition about driving psychology is concerned about cognitive side of driving behavior.  She emphasizes the importance of understanding how people think from different perspective, such as driver, passenger, cyclist. 

 

The other student describes the definition of driving psychology in very simple term which is study of a person while driving.  Based on the simple definition, contents of driving psychology becomes broad in depth because she mentions each individual difference in driving, importance of caring other people while driving and external effect that shaped an individual.  

 

One of the students explains the definition of traffic psychology.  It introduces behavioral principles that are useful to apply to each individual in traffic situations not only driving but also bicycling, walking and so on. 

 

       Comment:   

By reading the student’s report, I felt that traffic psychology includes all the transportations we can think of such as driving, bicycling and walking whereas driving psychology is more focusing on car driving.  It was interesting to see how people define a term slightly differently in words and meaning. 

 

2.        http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409bf98/flores/report1flores.html

       Title:           driving personality make-over is it for me? by a G11 student

 

       Summary:

Driving personality make- over is one way to change your driving behavior that would make your driving career healthy.  This method has 3 steps which are

1.         Acknowledging your weak points

2.        Witnessing your short comings

3.        Modifying your behavior to a positive direction step by step

The student herself tried the method to change her dangerous driving habit that she positions her vehicle too close to another vehicle when she drives.  She was hoping to change her habit with in one week, but it turned out not.  Thus, she stated that she is continuing her training even though the course is over.  Although changing habit in short period of time was not easy, she was making difference in her behavior at a certain degree that was very important not only for her self, but also for people around her. 

 

       Comment:

Driving personality make- over has stated clear steps people can follow when they want to change weak points in their driving behavior.  Like the student in this report, by doing an actual experience of the method is one way to know and learn how it is difficult but useful to change one’s acquired behavior.    

 

3.        http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/459s97/aschung/aschungreport2.html

       Title:           Managing a Quality Driving Circle: Analyzing Your Driving Personality by a G5 student

 

       Summary: 

A Quality Driving Circle is a useful way to know about self in driving.  By participating in a group, you will realize how you think, behave and feel from different perspective than you usually perceive yourself. 

In order to manage a Quality Driving Circle, first, you need to have group members of about three to six drivers.  You could involve friends or family.  Then, you need to set up the time and place they meet.  For the first session, all the members take a test called “Nine Zones of your Driving Personality” to see the degree of their “road rage”.  After the assessment of test, the group discuss about their driving personality.  In each session, the group discuss about a certain topic.        

 

       Comment:

A Quality Driving Circle is one way to change one’s attitude about driving.  Since this method involves several people who are also in the same situation or have the same problem, it seems easier for participants to cope with their difficulties than doing it alone.  

 

2. Introduction

The topic of this course is driving psychology in which students explore driving behavior mainly from three perspectives which are affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor.

 

The purpose of this course is to gain self- witnessing and self- modification skills that would be helpful for my driving behavior in the future.  Also, as a passenger, these skills would be useful to check a driver’s behavior and train him or her to become a supportive driver. 

 

Since I have never had a driver’s license in my life, I am involved in this topic as a passenger. I always take a bus to go to school, and sometimes I get a ride from my parents and friends.  Since I have been a passenger for the whole time, I think my understanding of the passenger perspective in driving is deeper than my understanding of the driver perspective.  

 

Definitely the topic of this course is meaningful for me.  In some degree, I already have built an image about driving through parents, media, friends and so on.  For instance, I have an image that women are worse drivers than men.  The notion came from my own experience and what my parents say when they drive their cars.  By taking this course, I hope I can clear out the stereotyped image about driving and prepare emotionally for my future driving.  Luckily or not, since I have never had driving experience, driving itself is not my part of habit, yet.  Therefore, I have a lot of potential to be a supportive driver in the future. 

 

There are many likely consequences of having taken this course.  First, I could gain more knowledge about emotional aspects in driving. Second, I could be skillful for self- witnessing and self- modification in the driving area.  In addition, I could learn how to control my emotion in general.  Third, for the first time in my life, I could have opportunity to learn how to make and up load web pages.  Fourth, I could not only improve my writing skills, but may also improve my oral presentation skills throughout this course.  For now, my mission is to become a skillful trainer for driving behavior.  Also, I will also become a skillful passenger who is supportive for a driver and understands about a driver’s perspective.

 

3. Ten Definitions

 

(i) The driver's threefold Self

 

Driving behavior involves whole personality of an individual.  The individual’s personality (the driver’s threefold self) can be divided into three parts: affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor.  The characteristic of each part is shown in a chart below.

 

The Driver’s Threefold Self

 

Affective

Cognitive

 

Sensorimotor

Feelings, motivation, emotions, attitudes, values

Thoughts, reasoning, judgment, knowledge

Sensation, perception, vision, fatigue, pain  motor reactions, stress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Understanding all three parts of personality is important since all of them are interacting each other while a driver is driving a car.  The driver’s threefold self has been shaped by biology, culture and socialization.  For instance, children are exposed to driving behavior of parents, adults, media, such as, TV, movies, magazines, cartoons, commercials.

 

 

Above information came from (Text p196) and (Lecture Notes)


(ii) Self-witnessing methodology

 

                                   

Since driving is automatized habits, it is hard to do accurate driver’s self- assessment unless objective self- assessment procedures are used.  Dr. James and Dr. Nahl have introduced a method called self- witnessing one’s threefold self that would help assessing a driver’s behavior.  The method is one way to obtain reliable data. 

 

 

In the method, a driver speaks to a recorder while one is driving.  The driver reports about external behavior (i.e. things the driver did or people the driver saw) and internal behavior (i.e. thoughts and feelings).  Self- witnessing reports provide on-going data of a driver unlike interview or written self- assessment scales that provide retrospective data.  After the recoding, the driver begins analysis of recorded data which shows feelings, thoughts and perceptions about a particular driving event. 

 

 

Above information came from (Lecture Notes) and http://www.drdriving.org/articles/taxonomy.htm


(iii) Road rage

 

The word “road rage” was spread out by media.  There is no formal definition for “road rage,” but people use the phrase when they are in great anger which leads to aggressive behavior. 

 

There are many factors which lead to drivers’ aggressive behavior.  Traffic congestion, feeling endangered, being insulted, frustration, time pressure, fatigue, competitiveness, and lapses in attention are some of the example factors. 

 

The term “aggressive driving,” in other words reckless behavior includes speeding, tailgating and lane hopping.  Many people perceive those driving behavior as just one of the driving styles that is assertive and competitive.  There is fine line between “road rage” and “aggressive driving” in the word usage because society has been using these two words interchangeably to refer to hostile and illegal driving. 

 

           

Above information came from (Text p22)

 


(iv) Aggressive driving legislation

 

According to International Association of chiefs of Police (IACP), aggressive driving means “commiting a sequence of moving traffic violations in a short period of time which occur in the presence of other vehicles and endanger persons and/or property”

           

Above information came from http://www.drdriving.org/legislation/teecards.html#officer

 

Communities are initiating aggressive enforcement programs to reduce aggressive drivers.  At the same time, people hope that their psychological, spiritual and financial burden can be also reduced.

 

           

Above information came from http://www.drdriving.org/legislation/

 

 

Laws for traffic and aggressive driving are different.  Here is an example of traffic law: since 1970, seat belts, air bags, better break systems, upper tail lights, and crash- absorbing devices became mandated car equipment.

           

           

Above information came from (Text 22)

 

 

Here are many examples for aggressive driving:

      Running traffic lights or signs

      Driving through a cross-walk occupied by a pedestrian

      Knocking over traffic signs

      Cutting drivers off when passing, not allowing someone to pass safely

      Passing in no-passing zones

      Tailgating

      Driving across highway dividers

      Not yielding at intersections to the driver on the right when arriving simultaneously

      Not yielding when making left turns

      Not stopping or yielding according to signs

      Incorrectly yielding when entering traffic

      Not taking care to avoid hitting pedestrians

      Turning incorrectly at intersections

      Making unsafe U-turns

      Not signaling before slowing for a turn

      Not stopping at railroad tracks when directed to do so

      Passing stopped school buses when warning lights are flashing

      Breaking the speed limit

      Driving too slowly when unwarranted

      Exceeding 20 miles-per-hour speed limit when in school zones and kids are present

21      Speeding in marked construction areas

22     Illegally parking in roadways

23     Illegally parking on bridges, in crosswalks, close to fire hydrants and driveways

24     Opening vehicle doors unsafely and leaving them open too long

25     Throwing bottles, nails, wire and other dangerous items from vehicles

26     Driving with one or more wheels off the road

 

 

Above information came from http://www.drdriving.org/legislation/

 

 


(v) The driver's emotional intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to assess, perceive, understand and manage one’s emotions, thoughts and actions. 

 

Above information came from http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409bf2002/robinson/home.htm &

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409as2002/philbert/report1.htm

 

According to Goleman, who is a researcher, emotional intelligence has six components that can be learned.  

1.         how to reappraise a situation and look for alternative explanations

2.        how to self- regulate negative mood shifts

3.        how to empathize with “the other side”

4.        how to persist in a plan despite distracting frustrations

5.        how to control or neutralize one’s aggressive impulses

6.        how to think with positive outcome

 

 

Anger management techniques are useful way to control yourself.  The techniques can be divided into 2 domains which are relaxation and mental reappraisal techniques.  A Relaxation technique allows you to reduce physical arousal.  Consciously breathing and relaxing your grip is one of the relaxation techniques.  A mental reappraisal technique is useful to observing your thinking.

 

Above information came from (Text 111- 113)


(vi) The driver's emotional spin cycle

 

 

The emotional spin cycle occurs in daily bases to everyone.  We go through three basic steps which are called the threefold self (this concept is described earlier in this report).  At first, you feel about something (affective).  Then, you think about the feeling (cognitive).  Lastly, you try to act out to the feeling and thinking you had (sensorymotor).  There are four options and two bridges we go through in emotional spin cycle.  The four options are “negative towards others and the world,” “positive about others and the world,” “negative about self,” and “positive about self.”  The two bridges are red and blue bridge.  A diagram below shows the emotional spin cycle.

 

 

 


 

The above diagram works like this.  For instance, if you feel rage which leads to aggressive behavior, you are in option 1 called “negative towards others and the world”.  Then, you have an option to go to option 2 called “positive about others and the world” by passing the red bridge.  In this option, you feel resolved, think in an emotionally intelligent way which leads to supportive behavior. 

 

 

Above information came from http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409as2002/philbert/report1.htm

 


(vii) Newsgroups for drivers

 

 

Newsgroups, where people share their opinions or ideas about a certain topic, are useful place for people to have broader perspectives. By participating in a newsgroup, you realize that there are many people who are in the same situation, or who are thinking or feeling the same way as you. 

 

 

Above information came from http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/499s2003/newsgroups/newsgroups13.html#1  

 

 

In newsgroups, many people discuss about topics which is related to driving psychology.  For example: 

Use of cell phones in cars;        

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/499s2003/newsgroups/newsgroups38.html#Newsgroup%20#1  

 

Analysis of rush;                        

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/499s2003/newsgroups/newsgroups2.html   

 

Treatment for road rage;         

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/499s2003/newsgroups/newsgroups9.html

 


(viii) Lifelong driver education

 

Traditionally, driving education covers limited area, and the education is far from changing students’ biased image about driving habit which is exposed by parents, friends and media.  Hence, my professor, Dr. Leon James believes the necessity of teaching driving- psychology for K- 12 school children to prepare for their future driving. 

 

 

Once people received their driver’s license, it does not mean that their driving education is over.  It is important for post licensures to continue their driving education once in a while to getting up date information about driving. 

 

 

In addition to taking a driving course, there are new ways to resist road rage phenomenon:

1.         Practicing self- witnessing methodology            (this concept is described earlier in this report)

2.        Retraining the “automatic” driving self and habits

3.        Acquiring emotional intelligence techniques (this concept is described earlier in this report)       

4.        Acquiring facility in “acting as if”

5.        Practicing partnership driving (a driving buddy gives you feedback about your driving)

6.        Participating in Quality Driving Circle (this concept is described earlier in this report)