Experiences of Aggressive Behavior and It's Effect Regarding Road Rage

Abstract

This study was performed to ascertain information that would aid health educators in increasing an individual’s awareness and education, along with helping educators develop interventions regarding different behavioral changes dealing with aggressive behavior and its relationship to road rage. The study consisted of 47 University of Michigan-Flint college students’ and their experiences of aggressive behavior. Most students (74.5%) had completed at least two years of college and the majority (61.7%) ranged from 17-25 years of age. The largest group of participants (53.2%) consisted of females. A survey questionnaire was developed where participants were asked a series of questions about their background and experiences of aggressive behavior addressing the following variables: time, stress in the classroom, conflicts with significant others and stress associated with being a single parent and their possible relationships to road rage. Results showed that students (89.3% ) had strong feelings in regards to how much effect time between experiencing an aggressive emotion and getting into an automobile has on ones driving style. More than three-quarters of the respondents indicated that time (within 10 minutes) of experiencing an aggressive emotion and getting into an automobile would more likely make them get aggressive with a driver who was going slow or cut in front of them on the highway. Eighty-five percent of the students indicated that they felt that having a “heated argument” with a significant other also affects their driving style. Almost 100% of those who indicated that having a heated argument did effect their driving style indicated that they would be more likely to get aggressive with a driver who cuts in front of them on the highway. This study also provided insight about two other variables; those being success on an exam and single parenthood. Results showed that more university students felt that doing poorly on an exam played more of an affect than doing well, 86.6% vs. 67.3%. More than one-half of the respondents (57.1%) indicated that they felt that being a single parent had no effect on ones driving style. The author proposed recommendations for further research on aggressive behavior and its effect on road rage.