THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON MILD DRIVER AGGRESSION

This study investigates the influence of self-selected music on the frequency of mild driver aggression in actual low and high traffic congestion conditions. Forty automobile drivers were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group listened to their favorite music during their entire commute while the other group abstained from any music or talk radio. Use of a cellular telephone, state measures of driver aggression, time urgency and stress arousal were obtained during a single commute in low and high congestion conditions. No predictors of mild aggression were found in low congestion. Within high congestion, the non-music group demonstrated consistently elevated levels of mild aggression across low and high time urgency. The music group reported lower levels of mild aggression, but only in association with a low degree of time urgency. As time urgency increased, aggression increased to match the levels of the non-music group. Contrary to expectation, this study did not find an interactive influence of music and arousal on mild aggression. Overall findings suggest that music may distract drivers from irritating stimuli or provide a mood enhancing effect unless the driver is experiencing a heightened sense of time urgency.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Wiesenthal, D L
  • Hennessy, D A
  • Totten, B
• Publication Date: 2003-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 125-134
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggression; Behavior; Drivers; Human subject testing; Music; Psychological aspects; Traffic congestion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stress arousal
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961883
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 30 2003 12:00AM