TY - JOUR

T1 - The emotional spectrum in traffic situations: Results of two online-studies

AU - Roidl, Ernst

AU - Frehse, Berit

AU - Oehl, Michael

AU - Höger, Rainer

PY - 2013/5

Y1 - 2013/5

N2 - Statistics indicate that in 2011 more than 2,3 Million traffic accidents occurred on German roads inflicting almost 4100 casualties. A contributing factor for accidents is inappropriate driving behaviour (e.g., risky or aggressive driving or delayed reactions) due to the drivers’ strong emotional state. Several situational factors such as goal congruence, goal relevance and blame have been examined and are considered responsible for the nature and intensity of the emotions experienced. However, the impact – and especially the interaction – of these situational factors on emotions experienced in traffic situations are not yet sufficiently clear. Therefore two consecutive studies have concentrated on this question. The participants had to rate emotions they would experience in traffic scenarios, which were presented as short texts in an online-questionnaire. A distinct combination of the situational factors served as a framework for each of the scenarios. In order to assess an extensive variety of emotions, two different versions of the Geneva Emotion Wheel were used. In both studies different combinations of goal congruence, goal relevance and blame influenced participants’ emotions. Anger, anxiety and positive feelings such as hope, relief and satisfaction were related to the situational factors. The second study showed that the development of pride, guilt and shame could also be traced back and associated with the appraisal of those situational characteristics.

AB - Statistics indicate that in 2011 more than 2,3 Million traffic accidents occurred on German roads inflicting almost 4100 casualties. A contributing factor for accidents is inappropriate driving behaviour (e.g., risky or aggressive driving or delayed reactions) due to the drivers’ strong emotional state. Several situational factors such as goal congruence, goal relevance and blame have been examined and are considered responsible for the nature and intensity of the emotions experienced. However, the impact – and especially the interaction – of these situational factors on emotions experienced in traffic situations are not yet sufficiently clear. Therefore two consecutive studies have concentrated on this question. The participants had to rate emotions they would experience in traffic scenarios, which were presented as short texts in an online-questionnaire. A distinct combination of the situational factors served as a framework for each of the scenarios. In order to assess an extensive variety of emotions, two different versions of the Geneva Emotion Wheel were used. In both studies different combinations of goal congruence, goal relevance and blame influenced participants’ emotions. Anger, anxiety and positive feelings such as hope, relief and satisfaction were related to the situational factors. The second study showed that the development of pride, guilt and shame could also be traced back and associated with the appraisal of those situational characteristics.

KW - Psychology

KW - traffic psychology

KW - emotions

KW - emotion prediction

KW - Anger

KW - Anxiety

KW - Appraisal theory

KW - Trait anxiety

KW - Trait driving anger

KW - Business psychology

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874626473&origin=inward&txGid=0

U2 - 10.1016/j.trf.2012.12.009

DO - 10.1016/j.trf.2012.12.009

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 18

SP - 168

EP - 188

JO - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

JF - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

SN - 1369-8478

ER -