Definitions of Traffic Psychology
How I Stack Up
***TABLE OF CONTENTS***
5 Definitions of Traffic Psychology
Definition 1: The author doesn?t technically define traffic psychology, but feels that it is important "for the sake of our own mental being". The author provides an example of a tragic death of an off duty officer. The author also feels that it is important for drivers to become educated in high schools.
My Reaction
I agree that Traffic Psychology is important for an individual?s well-being. Driving can be very stressful, especially under certain circumstances, such as traffic. And at times, we don?t realize that stress on the road influences us to become aggressive as drivers. In addition, I also think that education in driving is important in high schools. I feel that young people should be educated early so that they can take precautions in driving and can learn to become better drivers at an early age. Young drivers need to be aware of all the aspects of driving because not all parents fully educates or participates in their children?s lives.
Definition 2: According to the author, Traffic Psychology is "the study of traffic and the effect it has on the driving behavior of all road users". Furthermore, it serves to think about the consequences of our driving actions and those of others.
My Reaction
In my opinion, driving behavior is the most important
factor of Traffic Psychology. It is these behaviors
that determine how good or bad a driver is. And it
also concerns the way other people drive as well.
Communication on the road is important because without
it there would be numerous accidents and way too much
chaos on the road.
Definition 3: The author defines Traffic Psychology as the study of actions as a whole (cognitive, affective and the sensorimotor parts). In addition, it includes attempting to change or modify the behavior.
My Reaction
As I stated earlier, behavior is important in Traffic
Psychology. Behavior, in general is affected by these
three parts: cognitive, affective and sensorimotor.
Good driving behavior is determined not only by
knowing and obeying the rules of the road, but also
having common sense. For example, we have discussed in
class that in regards to the speed limit, we all have
drove beyond the speed limit, even if it is only a few
miles per hour. However, we don?t go too fast too the
point where we know we would lose control.
Definition 4: The author doesn?t provide a definition, but states the importance of behavioral changes on the road, which includes tailgating, shouting obscenities, etc.
My Reaction
I agree that Traffic Psychology also includes these
factors. As I stated earlier, driving can be very
stressful, and drivers need to have self-control in
order to avoid conflicts on the road. However, it may
not always be that easy, and drivers often cannot
maintain self-control.
Definition 5: The author defines Traffic Psychology as having three very important features: "The affective domain, which incorporates feelings and motives, the cognitive domain, which includes thoughts and judgements and the sensorimotor domain, which includes sensory and motor input.
My Reaction
As I mentioned previously, these three features are
vital in determining driving behavior. As drivers, we
all have individual ways in which we deal with stress.
However, I feel that the most important of these three
features is the cognitive domain. I feel that being a
good driver means making good judgements on the road.
A simple example would be in bad weather conditions,
like in rain. Common sense would tell you to not drive
as fast when the road is slippery.
Principles of Traffic Psychology
Traffic Psychology concerns principles of behavior in any kind of driving situation. It is also about recognizing old driving behaviors and modifying them to become a better driver.
Benefits of Traffic Psychology
Traffic Psychology benefits a driver in many ways. It teaches interpersonal skills that include: being polite to strangers, caring for the feelings of other road users, self-responsibility, being nice to your passengers, obeying traffic ordinances, subtle connectedness among traffic users, people?s rights in public places, showing solidarity with other traffic users, identifying with positive symbols, multi-tasking, recreation, artistic expression.
My Reaction
Among the list of interpersonal skills, I think the most important ones include: obeying traffic ordinances, self-responsibility and subtle connectedness among traffic users. In regards to obeying traffic ordinances, I feel is important because we all need reinforcement in learning. Self-responsibility is also important and relates to what is described as connectedness among traffic users and obeying traffic laws, as well. By being a responsible driver, you safeguard yourself as well as other drivers.
My Own Experiences
As A Driver:
Traffic Psychology is not only interesting, but is important to learn about how to be a better driver. As a driver, I know that there is much more room for improvement. I don?t think that I?m a good driver, but I try to be a cautious driver.
As A Pedestrian
: I?ve had a few close calls as a pedestrian. I almost got hit walking in a crosswalk, and I had the right of way. I then realized how much danger even pedestrians can be in. Traffic Psychology can teach pedestrians to be more self-responsible. For example, although the traffic light may give pedestrian the right of way, always take caution and look both ways to make sure that the cars come to a complete stop. I?ve been in situations where the driver kept on going and wasn?t aware that pedestrians had the right of way.
As A Passenger
: In my experiences as a passenger, I?m more capable of being observant of what goes on around me. I think that passengers have to be just as aware of surroundings as the driver of a vehicle. For one thing, a passenger may have a better view of traffic conditions, being that the driver has to focus on more than just doing the actual driving. Traffic Psychology can also teach pedestrians to be more responsible, as well.
Suggestions To Future Generations
Future generations will be able to further research this activity because there is always room for improvement in any piece of research. Future generations might be able to improve on elaborating on the definition of Traffic Psychology.
Epilogue
This assignment was very interesting doing. I found out many new aspects of Traffic Psychology, including more specific definitions of the word itself. It was interesting to find out the many different views on the topic. The first part of the report required getting five different definitions of Traffic Psychology from the Generation Curriculum. That allowed me to check out what other students have done and to visit their homepages. I learned many different things and found everyone?s information very informative. For future generations, I would suggest doing their report on this very topic. I feel that like any other psychology course, there is much more to be learned that can be applied to each individual?s life.
Navigation Table