Blaming the Victors: Characteristics of Public Transit Vehicle Operators Involved in On-Board Altercations

Abstract

The characteristics of public transit vehicle operators reporting problematic encounters with passengers or other persons were examined. While some association was found between involvement in such encounters and female gender, the major finding was that nearly half of all reported incidents over a 5-year period involved operators reporting more than one such incident. Moreover, that population was overrepresented by male operators, with operators reporting three or more such incidents being almost exclusively male. These operators also tended to be from a particular ethnic group. That finding led to a change from the original perspective, in which drivers were viewed as hapless victims of predatory persons, to one in which the interactional style of operators was seen as a contributory factor in the occurrence, progress, and outcome of problematic encounters. It was concluded that conflict arising from the problematic encounters is essentially about status: its assertion, affirmation, or maintenance. So strong is the drive to preserve status that considerable risks will be taken. A description of the structure of social interaction is provided, and organizational responses are discussed.