Link between aggressive driving, car self-identification

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers found those who view their car as an extension of themselves have stronger aggressive driving tendencies.

Lead author Ayalla Ruvio of Temple University Fox School of Business in Philadelphia said the study examined how personality, attitude and values contribute to aggressive driving behaviors.

"It explains much of the phenomenon we knew existed," Ruvio said in a statement. "We know men tend to be more aggressive drivers and we know men tend to see their cars as an extension of themselves more than women."

Ruvio's article, published online in the Journal of Psychology & Marketing, features two studies conducted in Israel. One took a holistic look at the influence of personality, attitudes and values gathered from 134 surveys of men and women with an average age of 23.5; and the second, involving 298 people, added the factors of risk attraction, impulsivity, driving as a hedonistic activity and perceptions about time pressures.

The findings include:

-- People who perceive their car as a reflection of their self-identity are more likely to behave aggressively on the road and break the law.

-- People with compulsive tendencies are more likely to drive aggressively with disregard for potential consequences.

-- Increased materialism, or the importance of one's possessions, is linked to increased aggressive driving tendencies.

-- Young people who are in the early stages of forming their self-identity might feel the need to show off their car and driving skills more than others.

-- Those who admit aggressive driving also admit engaging in more incidents of breaking the law.