Road rage can be caused by environmental factors and psychological factors. Self-identified high-anger drivers engage in hostile, aggressive thinking, express disbelief about how others drive, and consider revenge. Impatience may lead to erratic driving, as vehicle operators prioritize speed over safety.
External factors include running late and heavy traffic or traffic delays, which are cited as some of the most common motivations for aggressive driving. When drivers are behind schedule, they often respond by speeding, which can cause other aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating.
Examples of aggressive driving behaviors include: Speeding in heavy traffic. Tailgating. Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down.
What is the most common trait of an aggressive driver? One common trait of aggressive drivers is that they are more likely to rate their own driving skills very highly (Miles and Miles and Johnson, 2003). Consequently, they may not realize when their driving choices are creating dangerous situations on the road.
Aggressive driving occurs when a driver becomes emotional and drives erratically and angrily. Aggressive driving usually results from irritability, stress, or a combination of factors that manifest behind the wheel and can cause freak accidents or even serious injury.
Tailgating or following improperly. Blocking other cars trying to pass or change lanes. Driving on the shoulder, sidewalk or median of the road.
The Driver
The individual is extroverted, strong-willed, direct, practical, organized, forceful, and decisive. Look for someone who tells it the way it is and is very persuasive. Watch out or you'll be worn down and bowled over. A driver is task- rather than relationship-oriented and wants immediate results.
Stress, fear, anxiety, and other emotional states of mind can and will impair your driving ability. Distraction—not paying attention—is the number one cause of car collisions. Stress and fatigue are major sources of distractions.
The Most Aggressive Drivers are Young Men, AAA Survey Says. Drivers who are younger are more likely to speed and engage in other aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors, and so are men of all ages.
Aggression can happen as a natural response to stress, fear, or a sense of losing control. You might also respond with aggression when you feel frustrated, mistreated, or unheard — especially if you never learned how to manage your emotions effectively.
Road Rage is a psychological disorder where an individual experiences heightened levels of stress, anxiety, or hostility because of their driving environment.
Aggressive driving also causes countless nonfatal accidents that often result in serious injuries. It's best to stay calm behind the wheel.
Managing Someone With A Driver Personality
Be prepared to assertive yourself with them otherwise they will take advantage. When explaining something you want them to do, be brief, offer concepts not details. They like you to be focused and results orientated.
Drivers are decisive visionaries who get things done. A driver would rather make a bad decision than no decision; they just want a decision to be made. However, the drivers can also be insensitive, unsympathetic, harsh, proud, and sarcastic.
Studies show that personality traits and emotions impact driving, including the ability to drive defensively. They also show that people can control those traits and emotions. For many drivers, taking courses in how to accomplish that goal improves their chances of driving safely.
The anger arousal cycle
xi The arousal cycle of anger has five phases: trigger, escalation, crisis, recovery and depression. Understanding the cycle helps us to understand our own reactions and those of others.
Aggression can be verbal or physical. There are four types of aggressive behavior: accidental, expressive, instrumental, and hostile.
Age. Data has shown age to be another contributing factor to road rage. Drivers between the ages of 25 to 39 were the most likely to exhibit road rage behaviors, according to the AAA.
Bipolar anger and rage can be common symptoms for people living with bipolar disorder. Not everyone will experience these intense emotional states, but for those who do, it makes this mental health condition even more challenging to navigate.
It could be something as simple as being hungry or tired. Or, maybe something recently happened in your life that has you feeling scared, angry, or stressed out. Mental health struggles can also make you irritable, so if you haven't taken one of our mental health test yet, try that.
These studies together show that about half (50%) of the variance in aggressive behavior is explained by genetic influences in both males and females, with the remaining 50% of the variance being explained by environmental factors not shared by family members.
We have long disagreed over whether aggressive behavior is inborn or learned—which has led to many research efforts, including the Bobo doll experiment. This study concluded that children become aggressive through observational learning; that is, through watching someone else conduct the same behavior.