Abstract
The increase in the popularity of social media and access to portable smart-technology means more drivers are using forums to vent their frustrations about driving. A content analysis was performed on 80,923 twitter posts relating to road rage collected over a 13-month period. The aim was to understand what sources of anger drivers report on social media. Approximately two thirds of the analysed tweets related directly to anger over another driver perceived as a perpetrator of inappropriate behaviour. Judgements of the improper speed of other drivers were the most common tweets. However, a general attitude also emerged where other drivers were seen as "idiots," "unskilled," and "should not be driving." Such a downward comparison is likely to predispose drivers to unjustly blame other drivers for frustrating situations that may be out of their control. Twitter appears to be a social media forum commonly used to vent anger by drivers. Posts ranged from text message, a photo of the offending vehicle or of the driver, or a 6-s video filmed while driving. The sample of tweeted angry comments indicated that many drivers used smart technology to express their anger. However, the motivation behind this action may vary and may be to express anger, report the incident, or to warn the public. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the prevalence and danger of anger-provoked distraction with smart technology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 400-410 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour |
| Volume | 42 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Driving aggression
- Driving anger
- Online venting
- Smart technology
- Social media
Cite this
}
Venting anger in cyberspace : Self-entitlement versus self-preservation in #roadrage tweets. / Stephens, Amanda; Trawley, Steven L.; Ohtsuka, Keis.
In: Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol. 42, 2016, p. 400-410.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Venting anger in cyberspace
T2 - Self-entitlement versus self-preservation in #roadrage tweets
AU - Stephens, Amanda
AU - Trawley, Steven L.
AU - Ohtsuka, Keis
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The increase in the popularity of social media and access to portable smart-technology means more drivers are using forums to vent their frustrations about driving. A content analysis was performed on 80,923 twitter posts relating to road rage collected over a 13-month period. The aim was to understand what sources of anger drivers report on social media. Approximately two thirds of the analysed tweets related directly to anger over another driver perceived as a perpetrator of inappropriate behaviour. Judgements of the improper speed of other drivers were the most common tweets. However, a general attitude also emerged where other drivers were seen as "idiots," "unskilled," and "should not be driving." Such a downward comparison is likely to predispose drivers to unjustly blame other drivers for frustrating situations that may be out of their control. Twitter appears to be a social media forum commonly used to vent anger by drivers. Posts ranged from text message, a photo of the offending vehicle or of the driver, or a 6-s video filmed while driving. The sample of tweeted angry comments indicated that many drivers used smart technology to express their anger. However, the motivation behind this action may vary and may be to express anger, report the incident, or to warn the public. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the prevalence and danger of anger-provoked distraction with smart technology.
AB - The increase in the popularity of social media and access to portable smart-technology means more drivers are using forums to vent their frustrations about driving. A content analysis was performed on 80,923 twitter posts relating to road rage collected over a 13-month period. The aim was to understand what sources of anger drivers report on social media. Approximately two thirds of the analysed tweets related directly to anger over another driver perceived as a perpetrator of inappropriate behaviour. Judgements of the improper speed of other drivers were the most common tweets. However, a general attitude also emerged where other drivers were seen as "idiots," "unskilled," and "should not be driving." Such a downward comparison is likely to predispose drivers to unjustly blame other drivers for frustrating situations that may be out of their control. Twitter appears to be a social media forum commonly used to vent anger by drivers. Posts ranged from text message, a photo of the offending vehicle or of the driver, or a 6-s video filmed while driving. The sample of tweeted angry comments indicated that many drivers used smart technology to express their anger. However, the motivation behind this action may vary and may be to express anger, report the incident, or to warn the public. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the prevalence and danger of anger-provoked distraction with smart technology.
KW - Driving aggression
KW - Driving anger
KW - Online venting
KW - Smart technology
KW - Social media
KW - Twitter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84956862171&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trf.2016.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.trf.2016.01.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84956862171
VL - 42
SP - 400
EP - 410
JO - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
JF - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
SN - 1369-8478
ER -