Relating Reactive and Proactive Aggression to Trait Driving Anger in Young and Adult Males: A Pilot Study Using Explicit and Implicit Measures

Veerle Ross, Nora Reinolsmann, Jill Lobbestael, Chantal Timmermans, Tom Brijs, Wael Alhajyaseen and Kris Brijs
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Veerle Ross: UHasselt–Hasselt University, School of Transportation Sciences, Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Nora Reinolsmann: UHasselt–Hasselt University, School of Transportation Sciences, Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Jill Lobbestael: Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Chantal Timmermans: Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
Tom Brijs: UHasselt–Hasselt University, School of Transportation Sciences, Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Wael Alhajyaseen: Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center, Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Quatar
Kris Brijs: UHasselt–Hasselt University, School of Transportation Sciences, Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Driving anger and aggressive driving are main contributors to crashes, especially among young males. Trait driving anger is context-specific and unique from other forms of anger. It is necessary to understand the mechanisms of trait driving anger to develop targeted interventions. Although literature conceptually distinguished reactive and proactive aggression, this distinction is uncommon in driving research. Similar, cognitive biases related to driving anger, measured by a combination of explicit and implicit measures, received little attention. This pilot study related explicit and implicit measures associated with reactive and proactive aggression to trait driving anger, while considering age. The sample consisted of 42 male drivers. The implicit measures included a self-aggression association (i.e., Single-Target Implicit Association Test) and an attentional aggression bias (i.e., Emotional Stroop Task). Reactive aggression related positively with trait driving anger. Moreover, a self-aggression association negatively related to trait driving anger. Finally, an interaction effect for age suggested that only in young male drivers, higher proactive aggression related to lower trait driving anger. These preliminary results motivate further attention to the combination of explicit and implicit measures related to reactive and proactive aggression in trait driving anger research.

Keywords: trait driving anger; reactive and proactive aggression; cognitive bias; implicit measures; male drivers; young drivers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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