Against

by Robin Landry

Created on: November 07, 2009

At first glance, requiring anger management courses as part of the licensing process for drivers seems like a reasonable idea. Most of us have probably witnessed aggressive drivers at some point and have heard horrific stories of out of control "road rage" which in the most extreme cases ended in severe injury or even death. But would requiring all new drivers and experienced drivers involved in traffic incidents where aggressive driving may have been a contributing factor to complete anger management courses really be effective? There are some experts who seem to believe that this is doubtful.

In a 2003 article entitled, "An Apology for Anger Management" psychologist Mark Dombeck raises some thoughtful questions about whether mandated anger management courses really work. He makes an interesting comparison between anger management therapy and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Dr. Dombeck asserts that anger management course participants have to possess the internal motivation to control their anger in order for treatment to be effective and this is a problem, because for a lot of people anger is fun.

Dombeck indicates that angry outbursts can result in a powerful rush of excitement and may reinforce an individual's sense of power, strength and righteousness. He also indicates that if a person seeks to validate his sense of self only through repeated angry outbursts this may soon become an essential part of his persona. The person's identity becomes so enmeshed with anger that to stop being angry would be, in a sense, losing his identity.

Individuals prone to anger in general may be even more likely to act upon these feelings while behind the wheel. Automobiles can provide us with a sense of anonymity making it easier to act out against others. Add to this the fact that an automobile traveling at high speed is basically a deadly weapon. Having the ability to use this "weapon" to intimidate and control others through aggressive driving behaviors such as: speeding, tailgating, honking horns, flashing high beam headlights, driving slowly in the passing lane or accelerating when another vehicle attempts to pass may simply contribute to the "rush" and the sensations of power, strength and righteousness that the individual feels. In a strange way, "road rage" may actually be a pleasurable experience for an angry person and mandatory anger management training may not provide sufficient motivation for giving up these pleasurable sensations.

So, if mandatory anger management training isn't the answer what steps can society take to curb the negative effects of aggressive driving and road rage? Although I liked Mark Dombeck's comparison between angry individuals and substance abusers, as a mother I began to realize there might be another situation which would present an even stronger correlation. Think of a toddler deep in the throes of a full-blown, crowded supermarket, rolling on the floor, blood-curdling scream temper tantrum. Is the stressed out "road rager" really that dissimilar?

The University of Virginia Health System's website provides an excellent overview of why toddlers have temper tantrums. Some of the most common reasons are:

Feeling frustration over not being able to get what they want or having something taken away from them Feeling confused; they don't understand how they are supposed to respond to a given situation Feeling a desire to "test the limits" Feeling stressed because they are tired, hungry, worried or simply "having a bad day"

Likewise, the aggressive driver may feel frustration at not being able to get what she wants, like a parking space or the ability the pass a slow moving fellow motorist. Perhaps, road construction or an accident blocking the roadway has the testy motorist confused and uncertain about how to navigate through the obstacle. Maybe the aggressive driver is young or inexperienced but feels compelled to test the limits of acceptable behavior behind the wheel. And finally, being tired, hungry, worried or having a bad day probably describes the majority of drivers on the road in any city during rush hour.

So, could the strategies that parents have used for generations in preventing and coping with temper tantrums in children be applied to aggressive drivers as well? While the comparison isn't perfect there do seem to be some tactics that could apply.

Parents have long understood that perhaps the best way to cope with temper tantrums is by learning to identify the external elements that may set a child off. Things like making sure the child is well rested, has snacks or soothing music have helped many parents avoid the ugly meltdowns. If you are living with someone that you suspect is an aggressive driver why not employ a few similar tactics like:

Helping your partner get to bed earlier so he or she isn't tired and cranky for the morning commute Encouraging your partner to get an earlier start each morning to help in avoiding the busiest hours of the morning rush Stocking her car with healthy snacks and calming CDs for the commute home Suggesting that your partner adopt non-traditional work hours, if his company offers this option so that his commuting times will not coincide with the traditional "rush hour"

In situations where parents are unable to prevent a temper tantrum child care experts give the following advice:

Keep your own temper in check Don't shout or use physical punishment Ignore the child until he or she is calm Use a time-out to give the child time to regain control

Interestingly, all most all of these suggestions could readily be applied when we find ourselves confronted with an angry driver. Staying calm and refusing to engage the other motorist by shouting, using profane gestures or responding with aggressive driving tactics of our own is the first line of defense. Be able to ignore the yelling, honking and obscene gestures is step two. If the situation seems to be getting out of control with an aggressive driver exhibiting increasingly dangerous behavior like tailgating, blinding other motorists with high beam headlights or passing and then slowing down it might be wise to take a "time out" by driving to a safe place (like a local police or fire station) or by calling 911 to report the other driver's unsafe behavior.

So, even though I do not believe that traditional anger management courses should be required for all drivers I do think that there are actions that we can all take to effectively cope with the growing problem of road rage. By simply envisioning those aggressive drivers as unhappy two-year olds behind the wheel and adjusting our own attitudes and driving habits accordingly the roadways might just become a little safer for everyone.

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