Bumper Stickers = Road Rage

[teriwtt]

<p>Why I never observed this before is beyond me, but it all makes sense. What I find interesting in the article is that the correlation isn’t exclusive to one side of the religious/political spectrum.</p>

<p>[Lab</a> Notes : Bumper Stickers = Road Rage](<a href=“http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/labnotes/archive/2008/06/16/bumper-sickers-road-rage.aspx]Lab”>http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/labnotes/archive/2008/06/16/bumper-sickers-road-rage.aspx)</p>

<p>

As scientists led by Lucy Troup and her student William Szlemko of Colorado State University report in the June issue of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, it’s a simple matter of territoriality. Researchers have long known that drivers who have a strong sense of personal space while in their vehicle are more likely to be road-ragers, and the more someone plasters his vehicle with bumper stickers and decals the more territorial he feels about the space inside.</p>

<p>As researchers at the American Automobile Association warned way back in 1995:</p>

<p>“Human beings are territorial. As individuals we have a personal space, or territory, which evolved essentially as a defense mechanism—anyone who invades this territory is potentially an aggressor and the time it takes the aggressor to cross this territory enables the defender to prepare to fend off or avoid the attack. This may extend no further than a matter of a few feet or less. . . . The car is an extension of this territory. Indeed, the territory extends for some distance beyond the vehicle, again providing room for the defender to prepare to fend off or avoid the attack. If a vehicle threatens this territory by cutting in, for example, the driver will probably carry out a defensive maneuver. This may be backed up by an attempt to re-establish territory . . . flashing headlights or a blast of the horn are, perhaps, most commonly used for this purpose. However, this may not always succeed in communicating the full depth of our feelings. As it is usually difficult to talk or even shout to the offending driver, other non-verbal communication (offensive gesticulations) may be employed. . . . In some circumstances, the defending driver may wish to go one step further and assert his dominance. Many drivers admit to having chased after a driver to ‘teach him a lesson,’ often pressing him by moving to within inches of his rear bumper. This is comparable to the manner in which a defending animal will chase an attacker out of its territory.”

</p>

<p>By the way, they surely don’t include college bumper stickers in this study, do they? :)</p>

[curiouser]

<p>I read this article and my first reaction was that I’m the last person who’d have road rage, and I proudly bear the decals of both my kids’ colleges AND an Obama bumper sticker. I’m assuming, teriwtt, that college stickers count.</p>

<p>Maybe that means people will avoid tailgating me, which would actually be very nice indeed :)</p>

[teriwtt]

<p>

Maybe that means people will avoid tailgating me, which would actually be very nice indeed

</p>

<p>In that case, I’ll be out doing some major bumper sticker shopping tomorrow!</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>Ive found the opposite.
My H, who um if you saw him lovingly wash and wax his turbo thunderbird might mistake it for a youtube soft porn would sooner park within walking distance of where he was going, than put sticky paper on his car. ( and he practically gets a panic attack if anyone is in his way)</p>

<p>Me on the other hand- I like my Jeep but it is something that takes me where I want togo.
I have stickers of places Ive been and where I want to go. & of course stickers that show my taste in music & identify me to other tenclubbers.</p>

<p>However, outside of Richardhead drivers who should be off the road, I am pretty low key and more likely to let you go in front of me where I can keep an eye on you. ;)</p>

[teriwtt]

<p>OK… here’s my two cents for what it’s worth.</p>

<p>I absolutely do not understand people who have to put decals on their cars that show the evil little boy peeing on whatever it is… Chrysler, Ford, etc. I’ve seen more than car manufacturer references. The other day I saw one peeing on the word Packers (we live in the Chicago area).</p>

<p>Why do people feel the need to tell the world that they dislike something so much that they have to display a decal showing some symbol being urinated on?</p>

<p>I have to admit, when I see those stickers, I jump to some pretty quick judgements of the owner of that vehicle. I just don’t understand the hate. I know I will probably get flamed by someone on this board who has one of these on their car, saying it’s all fun and jest, but really, can’t you articulate the same feelings in some other less offensive way. And don’t tell me not to look; they have those decals in a very conspicuous place that is meant to be seen by a captive audience… those who are waiting behind them at a traffic light or stop sign, or stuck in stop and go traffic.</p>

<p>Ugh.</p>