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, Kris Brijs

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1850
Number of pages21
JournalSustainability
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • cognitive bias
  • implicit measures
  • male drivers
  • reactive and proactive aggression
  • trait driving anger
  • young drivers
  • METAANALYSIS
  • BEHAVIOR
  • ASSOCIATION TEST
  • ATTENTIONAL BIAS
  • DRIVER ANGER
  • EFFORTFUL CONTROL
  • HOSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS
  • ATTITUDES
  • INFORMATION-PROCESSING MECHANISMS
  • QUESTIONNAIRE

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