Angry Drivers: A Test of State-Trait Theory

Abstract

Tested hypotheses from state-trait theory applied to anger while driving. College student drivers high in trait driving anger were compared to drivers low in trait driving anger. High anger drivers were more frequently angered in day-to-day driving (frequency hypothesis). They reported more intense anger in their most angering driving situations, when visualizing provocative driving events, and in day-to-day driving (intensity hypothesis). Driving diaries and surveys showed they engaged in more aggressive behavior and expressed their anger through more verbal, physical, and vehicular means (aggression hypothesis). They reported handling of their anger less well when visualizing provocative events and on the Adaptive/Constructive Expression scale (reduced adaptive expression hypothesis). They engaged in risky behavior (risky behavior hypothesis) and experienced more moving violations, close calls, and losses of concentration, but not more major or minor accidents (partial support for crash-related outcomes hypothesis). High anger drivers were more generally angry and impulsive and employed more negative, less controlled forms of general anger expression. Results supported state-trait theory and added to the literature showing that high anger drivers have some other psychological and behavioral characteristics that may interact negatively with anger behind the wheel.

Do State and Trait Measures Measure States and Traits? The Case of Community-Dwelling Caregivers of Older Adults

“…The psychometric properties of SAS and TAS have been evaluated in a number of countries and have been useful in clinical and normal populations (Eckhart et al, 2004). Deffenbacher et al (1996; Deffenbacher, Lynch, Oetting, & Yingling, 2001; Deffenbacher, Richards, Filetti, & Lynch, 2005) have also demonstrated considerable support for the convergent, predictive, and construct validity of these scales in a number of experimental tests of various propositions derived from state-trait theory. However, we located no studies that attempted direct assessments of whether and the extent to which Speilberger’s anger scales actually measure state and trait anger.…”

Assessing Injuries with Proxies: Implications for Understanding Concurrent Relations and Behavioral Antecedents of Pediatric Injuries

“…Several differences across each proxy emerged, including differences with respect to bystanders of the event, type of injury that resulted (or could have resulted), the extent to which children learned from the experiences, and the extent to which boys reported the event to parents (Morrongiello, 1997). In other areas of research, differences across injury proxies are also found consistently (e.g., Deffenbacher, Richards, Filetti, & Lynch, 2005;Rizzo, Reinach, McGehee, & Dawson, 1997), which has led some researchers to conclude that each outcome variable may possess ''unique antecedents and thus may require different explanations'' (Morrow & Crum, 2004;p. 66).…”

Road Rage: Prevalence Pattern and Web Based Survey Feasibility

“…Deffenbacher [ 32 ] found anger to be positively correlated with coping strategies adapted by an individual and was less likely to express their anger through prosocial, adaptive/constructive means when exposed to anger provoking situation. In our study, though more than half of the subjects had negativistic view when dealing with the situation which would increase anger, no significant correlation of anger was found with expectation.…”