AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive Driving

Psychoanalytic aggression theory (Freud? Adler)Originally an attempt was made by Sigmund Freud to explain the human aggressiveness by a biologically established drive. Freud developed his dualistic model in 1920 at which Destrudo (death drive) and Eros (life drive) contrast with themselves as primary drives. The aim of the death drive (also called Thanatos) consists in leading the live to death. The "Thanatos" usually doesn't so simply accomplish its goal since its opponent "Eros" makes it harmlessly? by aiming it at objects in the social environment. However? our aggressions aren't so strong towards the outside world? what cultural compulsions are responsible for. These compulsions are supervised by the authority "super-ego"? our inner conscience. Through this a acting out of the aggression is prevented what leads to its sublimation Therefore aggressions are aimed inside at oneself. A permanently driving force which causes tension lies in the "Thanatos"?(Strayer 2003) and this one must be dismantled again. Therefore the only possibility of focussing on this energy consists in the attempt to convert the aggressive endeavors to morally acceptable forms and to derive them in a culturally acceptable way. Freud names defense mechanisms like sublimation? projection? moving or hindering as an aid for dealing with aggressions. In form of the steam-boiler principle aggressive impulses are caused naturally permanently inwardly? accumulate and press for unloading (hydraulic model) . (Strayer 2003)

Alfred Adler regards aggression as a drive or instinct for fighting which dominates all areas of motor behavior on a generally biological basis. For Adler the aggression drive means a central role within the individual dynamic processes unlike Freud who ascribes this one to the "libido". If this aggression drive is suppressed by influences of the environment? fear arises at the individual. At the average of people this aggression instinct shows itself in changed form for example as sports? helpfulness or altruism. In later theories of Adler aggression only more befits a subordinate position. It isn't seen any more as purely biological instinct. Adler rather understands by it now a partly conscious partly unconscious tendency toward the mastering of everyday difficulties and conflicts. Through this? aggression receives a purely reactive and instrumental character in Adler`s theory . (Strayer 2003)

Drivers understand it when they glimpse it. Cars racing down a crowded road? darting in and out of lanes? tailgating? and drivers yelling and gesturing at others are all behaviors that are recognized as aggressive driving. The dangerous driving conditions in north Texas has steadily risen these past few years. In some instances the driving behavior in this area escalates into assault with the vehicle itself or with a weapon? increasing the severity of the event from a traffic incident to a criminal offense. North Texas drivers are becoming more and more fearful of the threat of violence on the highways and evidence indicates these incidents are occurring more and more often as time goes on. Growing concerns about these drivers and the hazards they create on the roads have lead to numerous safety precautions and ...