Sidewalk rage happens to people who get furious at slow walkers in front of them who inadvertently block their passage and slow them down. Researchers are studying the dynamic of pedestrian rage in some people while other walkers are able to remain calm.
According to Colorado State University professor, Jerry Deffenbacher, who studies rage, researchers hope to improve anger-management treatments and learn more about how one’s emotions influence decision making and self control.
What is Sidewalk Rage?
According the article, “Get Out of My Way, Your Jerk!”, when a walker becomes uncontrollably furious at slow walkers in front of him, that sidewalk rage frequently manifests itself in the form of muttering, bumping into others, hogging a walking pathway and behaving in a very hostile and aggressive manner. Aggression from walkers who have pedestrian aggressiveness syndrome will display additional aggression by staring and directing unkind expressions toward the object of their rage, and by approaching walkers in front of them too closely.
To walkers who are able to remain calm when faced with slow walkers in front of them, such rage is inexplicable. Calm walkers believe the solution is just to walk around the slow walkers.
Walkers with pedestrian rage, however, possess a strong code regarding how other people should behave when walking. They believe slow walkers should keep to the right and step aside if they have to stop for any reason, such as taking a picture. They believe that the left side of an escalator should be kept free for those who desire to walk up the escalator. Those with pedestrian rage have no patience for walkers who do not abide by their perceived code of civil walking conduct.
According to the article, “Get Out of My Way, Your Jerk!”,walkers with pedestrian aggressiveness syndrome will frequently have demeaning thoughts about other pedestrians, feel competitive with other walkers, and will pass by them, cutting back very quickly and rudely. They also walk at a much faster pace than the normal walker and refuse to yield when civility calls for yielding. Those with pedestrian rage will also frequently walk on the left of a crowded passage way when most people walk on the right.
Dr. Deffenbacher, states “Ragers' thoughts tend to be overly negative, over-generalized and blown out of proportion, leaving them fuming about how they can't stand the situation, how late they are going to be, and how this always comes up, In contrast, someone blissfully free of sidewalk rage may still be frustrated, but thinks more accepting thoughts such as, "this is the way life is sometimes" or, "I wish that slow person wasn't in front of me,"
What Can be Done to Alleviate It?
According to the article, “Get Out of My Way, Your Jerk!”, because such anger can be associated with a host of health risks, including high blood pressure and heart problems, psychologists suggest that people with pedestrian rage try to calm down. It is not always easy for someone with pedestrian rage to calm himself down, however.
Dr. James, creator of the Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome Scale, suggests anger management treatments that include cognitive behavior therapy to alter thinking and behavior by devising alternative ways to view a frustrating situation. An example of such altered thinking would be to imagine that the slow walker may be lost or confused or is unaware of the presence of the person behind him and his need to get by. It is also recommended that fast walkers keep their heads up and look with a wide-angle view to look for openings to slip politely through.
References
The Wall Street Journal: “Get Out of My Way, You Jerk!” (accessed 8/8/11)
New York Magazine: “Sidewalk Rage is Real and It’s Spectacular” (accessed 8/8/11)
The Week: “Do You Have Sidewalk Rage?” (accessed 8/8/11)
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