Instructions for this report

 A Peak View of Traffic Psychology

  Three Domains in Traffic Psychology

   The 5 Definitions of Traffic Psychology &

 My Experiences as a Driver

 My Experience as a Passenger

 My Experience as a Pedestrian

   Suggestions on Future Generations Report

    Epilogue

    Navigation Table

A Peak View of Traffic Psychology

    There are many aspects of Traffic Psychology.  Before stating the 5 definitions that I found about Traffic Psychology in the other generations, I would give my own definition of Traffic Psychology.  Traffic Psychology is the study of how we think, behave, and express our emotions when driving on the road.  There are many factors that lead to this definitions.  The two factors are social and psychological factors.

    The social factors are the environment.  Regardless of where we live there would always be situations of traffic, pedestrians, who has the right of way, tailgating, turning on blinkers when needed, etc.  In traffic Psychology we have to find the social factors and observe how it is incorporated.  Without the social factors how could we observe Traffic Psychology.  Secondly, another factor that I would like to mention is the psychological factor.  We can't look in a person's mind or know that he/she is thinking about.  What we could do is observe what he/she is behaving, and by doing so we can analyze the motif of that behavior of what he/she is thinking of.  Psychology is not the study of the mind, but also the behavioral, cognitive, social, personality, etc. of the person.  It is important to know the intentions of the driver when driving a vehicle.
 

Three Domains in Traffic Psychology

    The three domains that is relevant to traffic psychology are the affective domain (feelings, motives), the cognitive domain (thoughts, judgments), and the sensorimotor domain (sensory input and motor output).  These three domains are important when learning about traffic psychology.  You're probably wondering why is it important?  One reason is that we are exposed to driving in our everyday life.  The more we know about it, the more we apply it to our daily routine in driving.
 

Irene Barrineau's Definition & My Comments:

    Irene Barrineau's definition of Traffic Psychology is "the analysis and the discipline of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while driving or interacting with drivers."  She believes that there are two aspects of traffic psychology, which are "analysis and discipline."  She states,"In almost every class we take, we must practice analysis of people, theories, research, etc."  She states her other aspects, which is discipline and identifies two things.  The first thing she states, "Discipline means a separate area of psychology, all of its own.  It also means that solutions to traffic psychology have to do with disciplining ourselves and explaining to others how to discipline themselves both physically and mentally."

    My commentary on Irene Barrineau's definition was well said.  I liked her definition because it made me think that analysis is important when learning about Traffic Psychology.  Although analysis lies under methods, and discipline is a component of a reinforcement in behavior.  Irene made it specific about the two aspects of traffic psychology.  Her definition made me think how it is important to know the responsibilities and consequences of being on the road.  There are many factors that we could study on traffic psychology besides analysis and discipline.  There are social and psychological factors to traffic psychology.  The social factors that we are influenced by are the media, people around us (environment), etc.  For example, in the entertainment business they would show some clips on a highway speed chase where the good guy catches the villain.  The environment lies under social factors also.  Let's say for example, living in California the environment of people is fast pace especially when driving.  What lies behind the wheel are the due to the three domains in traffic psychology.  The three domains are the affective domain (feelings, motives), the cognitive domain (thoughts, judgments), and the sensorimotor domain (sensory input and motor input).  Let's apply it with he situation of drivers in California.  The possible affective domain of California drivers are hostile, impatient, and aggressive drivers.  Their cognitive domain could be that they have to be somewhere at a specific time, or their thoughts could be that I own this lane.  I know for a fact that drivers don't give way to other drivers on the lane.  The sensorimotor domain could be of many possibilities.
 

Claudine DelaCruz's Definition & My Comments:

    Claudine DelaCruz's definition of traffic psychology is "A study much too difficult to define."  In simple terms she states, "Traffic Psychology is the study of our thoughts and behaviors involving traffic this includes the different behaviors we have, the different attitudes and personalities that we have, and the different ways we cope with our daily stress as road users."  Claudine believes that there are many components and methods in traffic psychology.  These methods are Self-Witnessing techniques, Self-Modification, Driving Buddies, and Quality Driving Circles.

    My comments on Claudine's definition was straight forward.  She mentions that it is hard to define traffic psychology.  I totally can agree with that.  There are many things that we could say about traffic psychology.  The main components that are important are thoughts and behaviors, which she mentions.  This made me think about how we act to people on the road when someone for example is tailgating you, cutting someone on the road, beeping your horn to a pedestrian, etc.  There are many situations that affects our driving by our thought and behaviors.  The methods that she stated are effective because it would help the driver be safe on the road and others around him or her.  I like how she elaborates on the three domains of traffic psychology, which is the affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor domains.  These three domains are important when learning more about what traffic psychology is really about.
 

Irene lau's Definition & My Comments:

    Ms. Lau defines that traffic psychology is "a very important thing in life.  It could change the behaviors of people who use the road as a mode of transportation.  It could be drivers, passengers and pedestrians."

    My comments on Ms. Lau's definition is simple.  She doesn't elaborate more on her meaning of what is traffic psychology.  She talks about how it changes a person's life, and she doesn't go in depth of what traffic psychology is really about.  It's interesting to read her summaries of other students in previous generations.  Then again, she doesn't state what factors associate with traffic psychology, such as social and psychological factors.  There is no input on the three domains, which is the affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor in her introduction.  Compared to Ms. Barrineau and Claudine's introduction it touches the basis on these three aspects.  Ms. Lau brings my attention of "change," which is really important.  I think when we change our bad habits in driving, we are more aware and improve safety on the road.
 
 

Chris Murakami's Definition & My Comments:

    Chris Murakami's definition of traffic psychology is "the study of traffic and the effect it has on driving behavior of all road users.  A chief function of traffic psychology is that it serves to enlighten us.  Traffic Psychology allows us to retrain individuals in re-establishing their rational thoughts amid potential conflicts.  Furthermore, this discipline allows us then to rethink and ponder the consequences of our actions and those of others."  Although Mr. Murakami's definition is long, he brought up a lot of interesting details of what traffic psychology is really about.  He also talks about how the media and entertainment can influence us in driving.  He also brings up changing our behaviors in driving, etc.

    My comments on Mr. Murakami's definition is well said and well done.  I agree that entertainment and media has a big influence on how we drive.  I mentioned in my definition of traffic psychology, that social factors like media influences the way we drive.  Mr. Murakami also brings the subject of disciplining and retraining people on the way they drive.  This was similar to what Ms. Irene Barrineau said about the two aspects of traffic psychology.  The important aspect that he grasped on was "change."  I feel that change in our bad habits is very important.  In order for us to be in a safe environment in driving, changing our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions in bad driving habits will be a lot easier for ourselves and those around us.
 

Shane Cobb Adam's Definition & My Comments:

    Shane Adam's definition of traffic psychology is a "tool, which through subjective analysis, functions to increase the quality of people's lives through concise and subjective behavior observance, identification, and modification."  He says that we need subjective analysis to know more about people's behavior.

    My comments on Mr. Adam's definition is interesting because he grasps the subject on "analysis."  Just like in Ms. Barrineau's definition, analysis is important when we want to study on how traffic psychology affects people's lives.  Mr. Adam's touches the subject on correcting the behavior and improving it for a better one.  Again, this is important in the three domains of traffic psychology.
 

My Experience as a Driver

My Experience as a Passenger

 
    My experience as a passenger has also been an emotional one.  There were situations where the driver is just so frightening to ride with or there are those who drives safe.  I can say that I feel safe when my dad drives because he's been an experienced bus driver for awhile now.  Being a passenger when my brother drives is another story.  I've come across situations where I don't even want to be with this person because he/she drives crazy.  I could say that most of the people I drive with are that type.  Call me a risk taker or not!  Through experience being a passenger, I have come across loony and reliable drivers.  I feel that riding with a reliable and safe driver wouldn't put my life in danger.  I try to rely on safe drivers because of my safety and also others.
 

My Experience as a Pedestrian

 
    My experience as a pedestrian have been okay.  I haven't picked any fights with anyone.  I have seen many incidents where a pedestrian is crossing and the car would honk at the pedestrian for no apparent reason.  Pedestrians have the right of way on the road when it's okay to cross.  On the other hand, pedestrians could take advantage of that leaving the driver frustrated and angry.  I recall seeing this pedestrian crossing the street, and arguing with the bus driver.  It was surprising that the bus driver honked at the pedestrian.  Usually, bus drivers would give pedestrians the right of way.  The pedestrians couldn't walk as fast because his leg had a brace over it.  When I seen that incident it made me upset because I think that pedestrians should be treated equally as if they were a driver.  I think there are drivers who think they have the right of way over the pedestrians.  I try to respect the driver if they wave their hand to let me cross the street.  I think it's a matter of communicating to each other, regardless of being a pedestrian or a driver.  I think what we lack as a pedestrian, driver, or a passenger is the commonsense of courtesy.
 
 

Suggestions for Future Generations in Traffic Psychology

    Traffic Psychology is an interesting field to learn more about.  For future generations in traffic psychology I would suggest that it is important to understand the different factors and condition in driving.  Although traffic psychology is a broad definition to grasp, it is important to know the domains which are the affective, cognitive and sensorimotor domain.  I consider traffic psychology to be important because most of us are exposed to it daily.  This is the foundation in understanding our driving strategies, and to also improve our bad driving habits.  Educating ourselves in driving is an effective strategy because it prevents us to make the same mistake all over again.  I suggest reading letters in Dr. Driving, and also search for newsgroups that links to any aspects of traffic psychology, whether if it is aggressive driving, road rage, or other aspects.
 

Epilogue

 
    I have learned a lot in doing this report on traffic psychology and also in the class.  I've applied these things in my daily routine in driving, and it has helped me to be more aware and conscious about how I drive.  This has helped me to reflect my thoughts, behavior, feelings, and experiences towards my own driving.  This has helped me to improve my bad habits in driving, at the same time modifying those habits.