This student's definition of traffic psychology stems from many personal experiences. It also comes from a great enlightenment from Dr. James' traffic psychology class. He defines traffic psychology as a method of anger management that leads to better knowledge of oneself. These two concepts put together result in being able to control oneself rather than the car.
This student's definition was not very long or in depth. I agree with him that this course has been a great enlightening experience. I do not agree that traffic psychology is a form of anger management. Anger management can be a result or process in which comes of or is a part of traffic psychology. I also agree that it does lead to a better knowledge of oneself, and that these things can result in better driving on the road.
Cherilyn Okazaki's (G4) report
This student's definition of traffic psychology is that it is the realization of one's negative actions and wanting to replace these negative actions with positive ones. The process would involve the three domains of affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor. The process moves on to modifying the behavior after the reasons for one's negative driving behavior are recognized. She also adds that this process can also be extended to bicycles and pedestrians.
This student's defintion is closer to what I believe traffic psychology is, but it is still incomplete. I don't agree that it is simply wanting to replace negative actions with positive ones. This would be the process involved with traffic psychology. In addition to that, it isn't just the realization of one's negative actions, but also knowing the reasons behind those actions that is important when wanting to change for the better. I also disagree that just the process of reformation includes the three domains of psychology. Driving in general involves all three domains. Reformation is a process that involves structuring these domains to fit the definition of good driving behaviors. I do like the idea that she extends this definition and process to those of pedestrians and bikers, because traffic psychology is not limited to the cars on the road, but to everyone that uses the road ways.
This student's definition of traffic psychology comes from various resources. One being Dr. James and the others are from previous generations. Her definition is basically that traffic psychology helps a person to recognize the problems with driving, and then correcting them. Next, this student defines it as a way of teaching people to look at things differently. She notes that most people only view things as them, the driver, and their car. She goes on to include the three domains involved with traffic psychology: affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor.
This person does not really define traffic psychology. She instead describes the results and processes that happen as a result of traffic psychology. I do agree with her that it helps people to see problems in their driving and then correcting them. I agree with her that it helps people to look at things differently, but the order that she has this definition written is dysfunctional. She should have written that it helps people to look at things differently first, and then that it helps them recognize their problems with driving and then correcting them. This student's report was defintiely a little more thorough than the previous two students' reports, and I found that I agree with alot of her points about learning to take a different view while driving.
This student's definition of traffic psychology is that it is a process in which drivers modify themselves through self witnessing and quality driving circles. The start of the modification process begins with the realization that modification is need. She then goes on to mention that driving is influenced by the three psychology domains: affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor. She also gives examples of each one of these domains.
Again, I disagree with this student's definition of traffic psychology. I believe that this process that drivers take to modify their driving is a result of studying traffic psychology, but it does not entirely compose traffic psychology.
This student's definition is that traffic psychology is that it's the study of traffic and the effect it has on drivers' behaviors. The report then goes on to describe the function of traffic psychology to be one of discovery and reformation. An important point was made that traffic psychology allows us to see the possible consequences from our behaviors and others' on the road.
This student has a much better and closer defintion of traffic psychology. I totally agree with the point that it is the study of traffic and the effect it has on drivers' behaviors. However, I also think that it should include the effect it has on drivers' thoughts and feelings. It should also not be limited to just drivers, but to every one on the street. I also really like the idea that it allows us to see the possible consequences that result from our behaviors.
My definition of traffic psychology would include a little bit of every students' reports. Traffic psychology is the study of the way that people think, feel, and act on the roads. This includes pedestrians, bikes, motorcycles, cars, and etc. It is study of the function and dysfunction of travellers, and their effect on others. One of the processes that invovles traffic psychology is being able to recognize negative behaviors, thoughts, and feelings and then reforming them. These of course involve the three domains of psychology: affective, coginitive, and sensorimotor. Traffic psychology is studying one's self as well as other's. It is working towards better road ways, instead of pointing the finger. Traffic psychology is heightening the awareness in people that there is a problem with the way everyone drives, and then doing something to improve it.
I have had a few bad experiences on the road ways. Most of the time I am the victim. The worst experience I had was a little over a year ago when I parked on the street. An older white Cadillac pulled up behind me while I was gone and blocked in my truck. I check the back to see how much room I had, and the friend that I was with said that I could get out. So, I slowly lifted my foot off the pedal and rolled back really slowly. Needless to say, I tapped ever so slightly the car in back of me. There was no physical damage. However, the owener of the car came storming to my truck, started yelling at me and calling me names saying that I should have my liscence taken away. The profanities that flew out of his mouth were worse than an Andrew Dice Clay act. He then proceeded to open my passenger side door, and threatened us. He slammed the door shut and then kicked my door in with his boots.
My thoughts at the time were that if I just drove off, he would hunt me down and do something. So, I got out of the truck and apologized. He again started yelling at me calling me stupid, saying that his transmision would be all screwed up. Just as he was saying this, another man interceded and asked if there was a problem. It turns out that he was an off duty officer. Thank goodness. He said that he saw what the man did and that he wanted me to make a report to make him pay for what ever damage there was to MY TRUCK, NOT HIS! any ways, to make a long story short, I had about ten witnesses there that said they would back me up, and to file these charges against this psycho. I had to file charges, because the officer forced me, but nothing came of it. All of a sudden, after the psycho guy fould out that the other man was an off duty officer, he turned into Mr. Nice Guy. Sick!!! Anyway, I guess I could have really used traffic psychology here in this situation.
One choice point was that I could have waited for the owner of the car to return instead of trying to get out. Another option I could have taken is have my friend stand outside of the truck to let me know how much room I had. I should have asked if I could have done anything to fix the situation. I don't remember if I did or not. The man at that point was totally irrational, and he probably needed traffic psychology more than I did in this situation. He had many choice points, and probably could have saved himself the embarassment and time had he not done all those things. He was probably thinking(cognitive) that he wanted to really hurt me and maybe even kill me. He was clearly feeling(affective) angry and resentful. And these showed in his actions(sensorimotor) such as yelling at me and opening my door, and kicking it in.
Okay, enough of that traumatizing story. I also had another experience within a month of that one. The end result was a broken side mirror that costed me $50! I was on my way to work, and I was running late. I was thinking(cognitive) that I had to hurry up and get to work on time, or my boss would be angry. If he was angry, then I would have to suffer the consequences, and I did not know what they could be. I was feeling hurried and nervous(affective). As a result, I was speeding(sensorimotor). As I was going down a narrow side street, an on coming car did not pull on the side. I ended up swerving to avoid the car, and came a little two close to the curb. I ended up hitting one of those huge green garbage cans that are put on the curb for automatic trash pick up. At first I thought(coginitve) "oh gosh! What did I hit?" then I was feeling(affective) pretty scared, because I couldn't figure out what it was at first. Then I looked and saw that it was my mirror. My reaction was to slow down(sensorimotor).
I could have used traffic psychology here, and saved
myself $50. I should have woke up a little earlier so that I would
not have been runnning late. On the road, I should have slowed down
instead of being speed racer. Something much worse could have happened.
I could have called from home to let my boss know that I was running late.
These things could have prevented the situation and saved me money.
This is a really cool report. It helps students
to recognize what Psychology 459 is really all about. My advice is
you is to maybe look at more than just the first 5 definitions you come
across. It really helps to read as many reports as you can on traffic
psychology. Some are short, and some are long. Just read them.
Don't limit yourself to what people have already written. Dare to
create your own definition. And remember to include all three domains
of psychology. They are the glue that holds your report together.
A lot has changed since I have taken this course.
I am more aware of my driving thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I
now am more sympathetic towards others on the road.(affective) I
try to put myself in their shoes and think about what they maybe going
through at that time.(cognitive) As a result, I drive slower, turn
my blinker on more often, and wear my seatbelt more. I have definitely
become more aware of my own driving as well as other's. I am slowly
being able to control my impatience and anger which results in ROAD RAGE!
Every time I get into the car, I conciously think about my driving instead
of just listening to the radio and mechanically driving to my destination.
Always remember to drive with
consideration for others, and to be more aware of your own thoughts, feelings,
and actions!