Apparently drivers with lots of vehicle flare are more likely to be aggressive. A recent study by Szlemko et. al, proposes that individuals with flare are more territorial (see excerpt below).
Aggressive driving may occur when social norms for defending a primary
territory (i.e., one’s automobile) become confused with less aggressive norms for
defending a public territory (i.e., the road). Both number of territory markers (e.g.,
bumper stickers, decals) and attachment to the vehicle were significant predictors of
aggressive driving. Mere presence of a territory marker predicts increased use of the
vehicle to express anger and decreased use of adaptive/constructive expressions.
territory (i.e., one’s automobile) become confused with less aggressive norms for
defending a public territory (i.e., the road). Both number of territory markers (e.g.,
bumper stickers, decals) and attachment to the vehicle were significant predictors of
aggressive driving. Mere presence of a territory marker predicts increased use of the
vehicle to express anger and decreased use of adaptive/constructive expressions.
Personalized plates are especially common in Virginia because they are so cheap ($10/year). Does this mean that more aggressive drivers live in this state? Probably not. I guess my need for privacy is not such a bad thing after all. Therefore, I am putting my flare here, where, hopefully, my territorialness is a bit less dangerous.
See notation below for full research findings
Territorial Markings as a Predictor of Driver Aggression and Road Rage
William J. Szlemko, Jacob A. Benfield, Paul A. Bell,Jerry L. Deffenbacher, and Lucy Troup
Colorado State University
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2008, 38, 6, pp. 1664–1688.
Images courtesy of Zazzle, Sticker Giant, Humper Bumper, Wiki List of Awareness Ribbons
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