AFFECTIVE MOTIVES FOR CAR USE

Currently, car use is mainly explained through cognitive and rationalistic behaviour models, and consequently, the instrumental function of car use is stressed. However, car use seems not only to be determined by instrumental motives such as travel costs, time and safety. Besides, affective and social motives, like feelings of sensation, power, and superiority, seem to play an important role. Although almost anyone recognises these affective motives for car use, the supposed significance of these motives has hardly been validated by empirical research. Results are presented of two studies aimed at identifying the relative importance of affective motives for car use. The first study revealed that affective motives are better elucidated when indirect methods are used, whereby the aim of the research task is not too apparent, for these methods prevent the occurrence of rationalisation processes and socially desirable response patterns. The second study, which is currently being performed, is aimed at examining the influence of affective motives on present car use and on policy evaluations. First, we check to what extent car use can be explained by instrumental, social and affective motives. Second, we examine whether specific target groups for policy measures can be distinguished based on these motives. Third, we examine whether instrumental, social and affective motives correlate with judgements on the acceptability and effectiveness of policy measures aimed at reducing car use. We conclude with policy implications of the study, and recommend how insights gained in this study can be applied in practice. For the covering abstract see IRRD E104586.

• Record URL:
  http://abstracts.aetransport.org/conference/index/id/5
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860503216
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
  London W6OL9,   England 
• Authors:
  • Steg, L
  • TERTOOLEN, G
• Conference:
  • TRANSPORT PLANNING, POLICY AND PRACTICE. PROCEEDINGS OF SEMINAR B, AET EUROPEAN TRANSPORT CONFERENCE, 27-29 SEPTEMBER 1999, CAMBRIDGE, UK.
• Publication Date: 1999-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 13-27
• Serial:
  • Volume: P430

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobiles; Behavior; Conferences; Costs; Economic efficiency; Evaluation and assessment; Policy; Psychology; Safety; Theory; Travel; Travel time; Trip length
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Use
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 1243: Car; 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 5911: Efficiency; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 698: Journey; 697: Journey time; 173: Policy; 2255: Psychology; 1665: Safety; 9078: Theory; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Policy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00790406
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-321-6
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 11 2000 12:00AM