The Effects of Trait Driving Anger, Anonymity, and Aggressive Stimuli on Aggressive Driving Behavior

  1. Patricia Ellison-Potter1,*,
  2. Paul Bell2,
  3. Jerry Deffenbacher2

Article first published online: 31 JUL 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb00204.x

Issue

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Volume 31, Issue 2, pages 431–443, February 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ellison-Potter, P., Bell, P. and Deffenbacher, J. (2001), The Effects of Trait Driving Anger, Anonymity, and Aggressive Stimuli on Aggressive Driving Behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31: 431–443. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb00204.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  2. 2

    Colorado State University

*1 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Patricia A. Ellison-Potter, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 31 JUL 2006
  2. Article first published online: 31 JUL 2006

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We examined the effects of trait driving anger, aggressive stimuli, and anonymity on aggressive driving behavior in a driving simulation task. High and low driving anger participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) anonymous vs. identifiable driver; and (b) exposure to aggressive stimuli versus nonaggressive stimuli. Participants drove more aggressively when they were anonymous (d = .28) and exposed to aggressive stimuli (d = .05). Males drove more aggressively than did females (d = .06). No main or interaction effects were found for trait driving anger. Results suggest that situational factors affecting other forms of aggression are also important in aggressive driving.

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