Roadway justice – Making angry drivers, happy drivers
The enforcement of traffic laws by police punishes law violators and reduces the likelihood that other drivers will violate laws via vicariously perceived punishment. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of punishment of violators on the feelings of anger and happiness in witnesses and victims. A sample of 279 individuals was exposed to four animated simulations of unjust driving behavior. Participants indicated how angry and happy the behaviors made them feel. Participants then indicated feelings of happiness and anger a second time, after being informed that the violator had been punished. While inconsistent, analyses generally indicated that perceived punishment reduced feelings of anger and increased feelings of happiness. In addition to increasing roadway safety, the current study shows the importance of active police enforcement, which could positively impact the emotional states of victims and witnesses of unjust driving behavior.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
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Supplemental Notes:
- Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
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Authors:
- Roseborough, James E W
- Wiesenthal, David L
- Publication Date: 2014-5
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
- Pagination: pp 1-7
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
- Volume: 24
- Issue Number: 0
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 1369-8478
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Anger; Drivers; Emotions; Equity; Psychological aspects; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic violators; Victims; Witnesses
- Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01531095
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jul 24 2014 3:18PM