Road Rage

The term ‘road rage’ is a relatively new coined phrase to describe the aggressive actions a driver takes on the road. It was only in the 1990’s that the media began to comment on the deadly incidents of ‘road rage,’ leading many to argue that road rage is a media invention and not a real phenomenon. Researchers disagree with the commentators though; ‘road rage’ is just a label for criminal, aggressive, or anti-social behavior on the road that is a well-known issue and causes many devastating accidents.

The understanding of road rage, what it is, what it implies, and how it is caused, are all serious points of information every driver should have access to. Road rage is a serious phenomenon that is, according to one researcher, responsible for ‘hundreds of thousands of deaths every year and damage worth billions of dollars.” (McDonald, 2002, p.1) Understanding the psychological aspects of road rage can lead to widespread knowledge and comprehension of new, safe ways to drive.

I have been a victimizer and victim of road rage on several occasions, so I am well aware of its psychological power it had. I take personal interest in this topic because by understanding the issues regarding road rage and the psychological aspects that can affect it I can learn to cope with aggressive behavior and deal with anger on the road in a more efficient, kind matter.

The question of road rage, its causes and its policy implications, will touch upon psychological explanations for this overly aggressive behavior on the road, as well as how this behavior has shaped countries and states into action against this epidemic. This essay will deal with how the media came to recognize the problem of ‘road rage,’ how psychologists and researchers developed ways to establish and test the problem of ‘road rage,’ and how researchers believe are good ways to deal with Road rage and why. Also, I will explore normal psychological issues that have already been discovered, and see if there is a correlation between previous understandings of stress and anger with ‘road rage.’ I will also review how policies have been created to counterbalance the affect of road rage and any pre-emptive measures that have been created to stop road rage before it starts.

This essay will also touch upon how road rage has shaped modern policies around the globe, what nations have taken a stand against this issue and why, and how this policies have helped in prevention of road rage.

Although many topics will be discussed, my essay will touch upon one main central topic question: What is the psychological cause of road rage, and how has it affected policies about driving?

Outline:

Intro- What is road rage, how did it come to be

Mentions: Issues surrounding Road rage, Where policies have been implemented

Thesis

Media- The beginning of Road Rage

How it was not an invention

What IS Road Rage

What it means, implies, how researchers have viewed its meaning

Stress and Anger

What stress and anger are

What causes it

How it relates to road rage

The Labeling of Road Rage

Are some people more susceptible than others?

Stereotypes

Psychological issues surrounding Road Rage, why people might do it for reasons other than stress/ anger

Is there a disease that causes Road Rage?

Intermittent Explosive disorder- how it creates Road Rage

Solutions to Road Rage

What researchers have suggested

What policies have been put into effect and how useful they have been

Work-In-Progress Bibliography

Anger on the Road. Melissa Dittmann. American Psychological Association. 26 Aug 2008. http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun05/anger.html

Bitumen Battles-the phenomenon of Road Rage. Acadmy staff and Dr. David Indermaur. NOVA. 26 Aug 2008.

I Would not like to have too many internet sources, and as I have just started this topic, have not been able to do any book research. In the future I plan on having multiple books or reports on the topic at hand.