Angry drivers : characteristics and clinical interventions. Plenary address presented at XVI Congreso Mexicano de Psicología, La Sociedad Mexicana de Psicología, Monterrey, Mexico.

While driving, high anger drivers experience more anger triggers, frequent and intense anger, hostile thinking, aggression, risky behavior, and some crash-related conditions than low anger-drivers. Findings support state-trait theory hypotheses and show high anger drivers are at risk. Intervention research shows cognitive-behavioral interventions (e.g., relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral skill building) reduce and maintain reductions of driving anger, aggressive anger expression, aggression, risky behavior, and general anger. Readiness for change may be a problem. High anger drivers not admitting problems were somewhat less aggressive than clients in clinical trials, but reported more frequent and intense anger, aggression, and risky behavior than low anger drivers, suggesting they were at risk on many indices and readiness enhancement interventions are needed. (Author/publisher)