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Albany, NY – In today's Academic Minute, Dr. Dwight Hennessy of Buffalo State College reveals that while cultures around the globe are often drastically different, the psychology of driving often transcends cultural divides.
Dr. Hennessy is an associate professor of psychology at Buffalo State College where he specializes in social, environmental, consumer, and traffic psychology. He holds a Ph.D. from York University. In 2010 he edited, Traffic Psychology: An International Perspective.
Dr. Dwight Hennessy - International Drivers
As the subspecialty of traffic psychology grows around the world, we are finding that drivers from Beijing to Boston have a surprising number of similarities. Research conducted by clinical, developmental, cognitive, and social psychologists from 20 countries showed that, while cultural customs may differ, similar issues plague drivers worldwide.
For example, the amount of space drivers expect to have around their vehicles may vary from country to country, but stress can create a desire for even more space.
Stress caused by driving can affect people's behavior long after they arrive at their destinations. And, of course, stress experienced while driving may lead to aggression behind the wheel. Many factors create stress, and researchers have found that one common cause is that people don't give themselves enough time to reach their destinations.
We also find that personality types who engage in displays of aggression tend to be similar across cultures. People who get angry easily, and people who are controlling, seem to be set off by more things. Aggressive driving behavior such as swearing, yelling, leaning on the horn, gesturing, and flashing high beams can be exhibited by anyone, under the right provocation.
It's important to learn from each other, because driving behavior affects billions of people on Earth. Experts estimate that between 700 million and a billion vehicles are traveling on global roads. Stressed-out and aggressive drivers pose a public health issue of an international scope.