Metacognition, rumination and road rage: An examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia

Steven Love; Lee Kannis-Dymand; Jeremy Davey; James Freeman

doi:10.1016/j.trf.2021.11.015

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Metacognition, rumination and road rage: An examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Metacognition, rumination and road rage: An examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia

Steven Love, Lee Kannis-Dymand, Jeremy Davey and James Freeman

Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.84, pp.21-32

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.11.015

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Abstract

Cognitive and computational psychology

Anger rumination

Driver aggression

Driver anger

Metacognitive beliefs

Road rage

Road rage is a serious issue impacting road safety on Australian roads. This study investigated the psychological antecedents involved in aggressive driver behaviours. Specifically, the study investigated the relationships between metacognitive beliefs, anger rumination, trait driver anger, and driver aggression; and examined the extent of aggressive behaviours in a sample of Australian drivers (N = 246). An inspection of cross-tabulations indicated that nearly all drivers engaged in verbal driver aggression (94%), approximately half of the drivers engaged in vehicle aggression (53%), and approximately a quarter of the drivers engaged in physical aggression (27%). Driver aggression was more commonly reported from males, open licensed, and middle-aged drivers. Structural path analysis indicated that there was a hierarchical series of relationships present, in that metacognitive beliefs influenced cognitive constructs such as anger rumination and constructive expression. Additionally, such factors were shown to more prominently influence trait driver anger, and the degree to which it was expressed. Bivariate correlations also demonstrated that the relationships carried forward to more specific dimensions of anger rumination and driver aggression styles. The findings of this study may assist to identify the origins of psychological mechanisms involved with anger progression and expression and inform potential interventions for aggressive driving behaviours.

Details

Title: Metacognition, rumination and road rage: An examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia
Authors: Steven Love (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
Lee Kannis-Dymand (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Jeremy Davey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
James Freeman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
Publication details: Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.84, pp.21-32
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2021.11.015
ISSN: 1873-5517
Organisation Unit: Sustainability Research Centre; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Law and Society; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Health - Psychology; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99590208902621
Output Type: Journal article

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