Road Rage

Is it new? From late 1980s: talk about road rage and aggressive driving increased. From late 1980s: talk about road rage and aggressive driving increased. At the same time, the number of deaths due to crashes gradually decreased. At the same time, the number of deaths due to crashes gradually decreased. Increase in vigilante behavior, driven by examples in movies and TV. Increase in vigilante behavior, driven by examples in movies and TV.

What IS Road Rage? "Aggressive driving" - an incident in which an angry or impatient motorist or passenger intentionally injures or kills another person or attempts to injure or kill another in response to a traffic dispute, altercation, or grievance or intentionally drives his or her vehicle into a building or other structure or property.

Prevalence Estimates of the number of aggressive driving incidents reach as high as 1.8 billion per year. Estimates of the number of aggressive driving incidents reach as high as 1.8 billion per year. 25% of drivers surveyed admitted that they have driven aggressively 25% of drivers surveyed admitted that they have driven aggressively

What IS Road Rage?

Frustration leads to anger Anger can lead to aggression, but not in everyone In road rage, aggression escalates as a result of repetition. ”Aggressive drivers become angry when someone blocks them from achieving goals they have set for themselves. They believe their goals to be virtuous, and their self-esteem is at stake if they can’t achieve them.”

What IS Road Rage?

Causes of Road Rage Psychological issues Psychological issues A lack of responsible driving behavior, driven by psychological issues A lack of responsible driving behavior, driven by psychological issues Environmental issues Environmental issues Reduced levels of traffic violation enforcement Reduced levels of traffic violation enforcement More traffic congestion, especially in urban areas. More traffic congestion, especially in urban areas.

Psychological Issues Personality or environment? Personality or environment? Self-esteem Self-esteem Cars are an extension of the self. Cars are an extension of the self. Insult or injury to our cars is a threat to our self-esteem. Insult or injury to our cars is a threat to our self-esteem. Cars provide anonymity. Cars provide anonymity. Cars are powerful and obedient. Cars are powerful and obedient. Fundamental error of attribution Fundamental error of attribution

Psychological Issues Certain personalities are predisposed to act aggressively. Certain personalities are predisposed to act aggressively. Less control of hostility Less control of hostility Less tolerance of tension Less tolerance of tension Less maturity Less maturity Tendency to take risks Tendency to take risks Actual pathologies may be involved Actual pathologies may be involved Higher incidence in aggressive drivers than in the general population Higher incidence in aggressive drivers than in the general population

Psychological Analysis TypesBeliefs

TypesBeliefs Speeders I’m making good time

Psychological Analysis TypesBeliefs Speeders I’m making good time Competitors I need to be Number One

Psychological Analysis TypesBeliefs Speeders I’m making good time Competitors I need to be Number One Passive-Aggressive Try and make me!

Psychological Analysis TypesBeliefs Speeders I’m making good time Competitors I need to be Number One Passive-Aggressive Try and make me! Narcissists They shouldn’t be allowed on the road

Psychological Analysis TypesBeliefs Speeders I’m making good time Competitors I need to be Number One Passive-Aggressive Try and make me! Narcissists They shouldn’t be allowed on the road Vigilantes Teach them a lesson!

Environmental Issues Noise Noise Heat Heat Music Music Air pollution Air pollution Congestion Congestion

Seeing & Believing

There’s a brief movie here. I’ve taken it out of this version of the file due to limitations.

Treatment & Prevention Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Focuses on Focuses on Incorrect beliefs Incorrect beliefs Specific behaviors, their antecedents and their consequences Specific behaviors, their antecedents and their consequences Relaxation training Relaxation training ”(Interventions) directed at teaching knowledge of highway laws cannot change aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers know the laws, but they are unwilling to follow them. Their underlying attitudes, which they believe to be virtuous, determine their behavior." ”(Interventions) directed at teaching knowledge of highway laws cannot change aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers know the laws, but they are unwilling to follow them. Their underlying attitudes, which they believe to be virtuous, determine their behavior."

Treatment & Prevention Incorrect beliefs and distortions of reality: Incorrect beliefs and distortions of reality: Sam once tried to put a tire iron through another driver’s rear window. Sam once tried to put a tire iron through another driver’s rear window. “I hate all these *$%# drivers on roads. They are all a bunch of I can’t even leave my house to drive to the store without facing possible death at the hands of these idiots. They should all stay off the roads and get the ^#&#* out of my way. Then, God forbid you should defend yourself.” “I hate all these *$%# drivers on roads. They are all a bunch of I can’t even leave my house to drive to the store without facing possible death at the hands of these idiots. They should all stay off the roads and get the ^#&#* out of my way. Then, God forbid you should defend yourself.” Part of the therapy is to challenge these beliefs. Part of the therapy is to challenge these beliefs.

Treatment & Prevention Specific Behaviors Specific Behaviors First, accurate "self-appraisal." This skill depends on how carefully we monitor our emotions and how we express them, verbally or by silence, gesture, and tone. First, accurate "self-appraisal." This skill depends on how carefully we monitor our emotions and how we express them, verbally or by silence, gesture, and tone. Second, effective "self-regulation." This skill depends on acquiring methods to self- regulate the intensity and expression of our emotions. Second, effective "self-regulation." This skill depends on acquiring methods to self- regulate the intensity and expression of our emotions.

Treatment & Prevention Does it work? Does it work? Relaxation training and cognitive behavior therapy worked equally well Relaxation training and cognitive behavior therapy worked equally well