Bumper Stickers linked to road rage? Nature addresses the issue

There's an interesting article in Nature last week concerning the link between bumper stickers and road rage. The conclusion from the Colorado State University team drew from their study is that there is a correlation between how someone uses their car as an expression outlet and their likelihood for anger behind the wheel. They link bumper stickers with territorial markers. This is my space, not yours.

I bring this up because of my previous post concerning P.M. Forni's Book Choosing Civility. Here in Howard County, the library has been passing out these magnetic bumper stickers supporting the civility campaign. Using the now published research, could these bumper stickers be considered an expression of some subtle hostility? Like Forni's book (from here on, it'll be referred to as Forni's hissy fit), it would certainly seem to suggest that it is the case.

I'll certainly have to muse this new data and work it into some workable form. More to come.

--Chris

Comments

[Anne]

Whenever I see a 'Choose Civility' bumper sticker, I immediately judge the driver against a much higher driving standard. If that person cuts me off or fails to use their signal or something else that I consider rude to do behind the wheel, I find myself mentally branding them as hypocrites and being even more annoyed than I would be if they had no sticker.

So I agree with your hypothesis, in a way. I think I read the sticker as though it were a religious statement along the lines of "I am saved but you're going to hell" which puts me in a defensive state of mind where I'm just waiting for them to screw up, even though I actually like Forni and much of what he says.

[Chris]

I certainly agree with many things that he says, I just disagree with the methods used to promote the ideas. It's almost as if we are being told to behave rather than being engaged in a conversation on what is civil and what is appropriate in various situations.

[Kiki]

I couldn't agree more with Anne's comment! I happened to be listening to PM Forni talking about his new book, What to do when people are rude, yesterday on NPR when I was cut off by a speeding and signal-less "Choose Civility" branded vehicle. I also think much of what Forni writes is good information, unfortunately the people who are likely to read it aren't usually the ones who have problems with integrating themselves into a more polite lifestyle.