The authors thank Ross Loomis for his assistance with previous drafts of the manuscript.
1559-1816/asset/olbannerleft.gif?v=1&s=2f1e2d4ae318cd9a67ef221a9da46c594a8538fa)
Territorial Markings as a Predictor of Driver Aggression and Road Rage†
Article first published online: 21 MAY 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00364.x
© 2008 Copyright the Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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How to Cite
Szlemko, W. J., Benfield, J. A., Bell, P. A., Deffenbacher, J. L. and Troup, L. (2008), Territorial Markings as a Predictor of Driver Aggression and Road Rage. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38: 1664–1688. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00364.x
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 21 MAY 2008
- Article first published online: 21 MAY 2008
- Abstract
- Article
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- Cited By
Aggressive driving has received substantial media coverage during the past decade. We report 3 studies testing a territorial explanation of aggressive driving. Altman (1975) described attachment to, personalization of, and defense of primary territories (e.g., home) as being greater than for public territories (e.g., sunbathing spot on a beach). Aggressive driving may occur when social norms for defending a primary territory (i.e., one's automobile) become confused with less aggressive norms for defending a public territory (i.e., the road). Both number of territory markers (e.g., bumper stickers, decals) and attachment to the vehicle were significant predictors of aggressive driving. Mere presence of a territory marker predicts increased use of the vehicle to express anger and decreased use of adaptive/constructive expressions.