Abstract

Government reports indicate that, on average, more than 3000 people die due to distracted driving each year, accounting for nearly 10% of all fatal car crashes. Other reports claim that two-thirds of fatal car accidents result from aggressive driving. Previous research has been inconclusive regarding how personality impacts distracted and aggressive driving behaviors. Therefore, the goal of this current study is to fill the gap in the literature concerning the role that personality plays in distracted and aggressive driving behaviors. We also explored the role that distracted and aggressive driving behaviors played in accident involvement. A sample of (N=327) participants were recruited using social media and the UCF SONA System. They were asked to self-report their driving behaviors and personality traits by completing a series of online questionnaires (ADBQ, BFI, DBQ, DDQ, DEMO, and IPIP NEO PI-R). Using this data, bivariate correlations were run using the Pearson Correlation Coefficients to determine the role that personality (OCEAN) plays in distracted and aggressive driving behaviors. We used the DDQ and the IPIP NEO PI-R to evaluate the relationship between personality and distracted driving, and we found that personality traits: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism were all significant predictors of distracted driving. Openness was the only one of the five personality traits to have no significant correlation. We used the ADBQ and the IPIP NEO PI-R to assess the relationship between personality and aggressive driving, and we found the same four personality traits: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism were all significant predictors of aggressive driving. Openness was, again, the only one of the five personality traits to have no significant correlation. Backward regression analyses were performed to determine what caused these relationships. The regression analysis displayed trait subscales: Morality, Cooperation, Self Discipline, Activity Level, Excitement Seeking, Anger, Emotionality, and Liberalism, each significantly contributed to driver distraction. Another backward regression analysis reveals trait subscales: Morality, Self-Efficacy, Dutifulness, Self Discipline, Anger, and Artistic Interests, each significantly contributed to driver aggression.

Thesis Completion

2022

Semester

Summer

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Mouloua, Mustapha

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

8-15-2022

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Psychology Commons

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