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The effect of anger on pedestrian avoidance in a simulated driving task
Qian Zhang1, Weina Qu2, Yan Ge2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Anger significantly increases risky driving behaviors like speeding and reduces safe passing distances from pedestrians. Happiness, however, did not notably alter driving behavior compared to a neutral state.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Traffic Safety
- Human Factors
Background:
- Conflicting research exists on emotion's impact on driving.
- Emotional arousal and specific driving tasks are key factors influencing driving behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of anger and happiness on drivers' behavior during a simulated pedestrian crossing event.
- To understand how emotional states influence strategic and behavioral choices in traffic scenarios.
Main Methods:
- A simulated driving task was employed with 39 participants.
- Participants experienced induced emotional states (anger, happiness, neutral) during the simulation.
Main Results:
- Anger led to increased average and minimum speeds, higher probability of passing in front of pedestrians, and altered lateral distance.
- Happy and neutral moods showed no significant differences in driving behavior.
Conclusions:
- Anger is a primary driver of general risky driving behaviors, such as speeding.
- Emotional valence influences prosocial driving behaviors like pedestrian avoidance.
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