Has anyone noticed how whenever the traffic lights turn green, it seems to automatically activate the hooter of the car behind you and before you know it you are getting the middle finger? Its like people are so stressed these days that even a simple thing is taken way out of proportion. Just this morning I watched in disbelief as a guy got out of his car and started chasing after a window cleaner . It was so funny how the cleaner whose smile had turned into something that precedes a scream ran waving his cleaning equipment and dodging in between cars (obviously enjoying the attention) while the other dude charged at him red faced, steam coming out of his nostrils and all. Some people were cheering so you can imagine how embarrassing and long the walk back to his car must have been and not forgetting the fuming female passenger he had left in the car. A taxi driver recently after bumping into a women tried to drive off(obviously cause he thought he could) and in the process ran over the lady and dragged her along until the other motorists stopped him. Whether that was really necessary or whether the extra trip that he was going to make had he arrived faster than his friend was that much worth it, will forever be a mystery because he will go to jail for a long time.
What is the problem? when did we become so caught up in life that we cannot even differentiate between a simple situation and a serious one ?i need answers, so what do you guys think?
The field of Psychology has done an enormous amount of research on Road rage + aggressive driving and come to the realization that it is not caused by traffic, no matter how heavy the traffic may be. Road rage is actually a learned cultural habit of retaliation one expresses when they feel like retaliating and deem it necessary to do so. It's a free choice which we can all exercise. When people get frustrated in heavy traffic( it ignites other stressors which they may be conscious or unconscious off at the time - eg. anxiety because they are running late for work 3rd time in a row, or maybe they feel very
ReplyDeleteuncomfortable in their 1996 Mazda with poor air conditioning on a hot summer's day or even the traffic jam makes them lose control of the only thing they think they are able to control ie driving, giving them time to reflect on that boss they can't stand, the nagging wife they never seem to be able to please!!! etc all these trigger anxiety or frustration) we have a choice of how we're going to respond. In all actuality, road rage is an expression of an underlying problem with a driver. The driver is not able to remain in control of themselves and their emotions. It isn’t the vehicle or the other driver that brings out the aggressive nature. It is inside the person who, regardless of the setting fails to control his or her temper and simply explodes...