Psychological Reactions to the Drunk Driver: Associations With Intervention and Their Success¹

Abstract

Research on psychological factors in helping behavior has been undertaken primarily in laboratory settings. Although this work has been instrumental in identifying psychological factors that influence helping, their role in naturally occurring helping behavior, such as informal drunk‐driving intervention, is largely unknown. College students (N= 192) completed a questionnaire that assessed 11 possible reactions to the drunk driving situation, types of interventions, and their success. Over half of the students (55%, N= 10) reported having intervened to prevent someone from driving drunk. Using structural modeling, we examined the effect of various emotions and affective and cognitive reactions on the frequency and success of different types of informal drunk‐driving intervention. Different reactions to the drunk driving situation influenced the number, type, and success of interventions used.

A Systematic Review of Intervening to Prevent Driving While Intoxicated: The Problem of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

“…Across the reviewed studies, few provided reference to the construct of personal responsibility; however the research did support the importance of responsibility in social intervention. Hernandez et al (1999) showed that greater rating of responsibility was associated with greater likelihood of an assertive intervention and that chivalry was associated with greater passive interventions (e.g. providing coffee).…”

“…Intervention strategies were also the focus of research by Shore and Compton (2000) rather than what predicts intervention. Of note, while intended intervention behavior was the outcome in a number of studies, other researchers limited the sample to those who have intervened and focused on past behavior (Hernandez et al, 1999; Labouvie & Pinsky, 2001; Mauck & Zagumny, 2000; Shore & Compton, 2000). Thus there are some studies examining intended behavior and other examining past behavior.…”

“…In related work, Hernandez et al (1999) assessed feelings of anxiety about DWI consequences, and found associations with likelihood of intervening. They found that greater endorsement of a cluster of emotions that included stress, worry, nervousness, and frustration (termed anxiety) was associated with having intervened suggesting sufficient arousal is associated with intervention.…”

“…Typically intervention self-reported intervention rates are around two-thirds to three-quarters of those surveyed (e.g. Labouvie & Pinsky, 2000; Hernandez, 1999). Such findings highlight a potentially important opportunity for intervention whereby those less intoxicated may be a source of influence to dissuade an individual from DWI (Gustin & Simons, 2008).…”