An Examination of the Actor‐Observer Effect in Young Drivers' Attributions for Their Own and Their Friends' Risky Driving

Harré, Niki; Brandt, Theodore; Houkamau, Carla

doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb02572.x

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…These findings support our hypothesis in which we predicted the presence of an extended overall actor-observer effect (Jones & Nisbett, 1971), as well as being compatible with the results of prior research studies (Abramovitch & Freedman, 1981;Harré et al, 2004;Kemdal & Montgomery, 2001;McKay et al, 1989;West, Gunn, & Chernicky, 1975;Wolfson & Salancik, 1977).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…This tendency can be seen when comparing the explanations an individual provides for the same behavioral outcome for self and another, as well as when comparing the explanations one provides for his or her own behavioral outcome to the explanations provided by another individual. Support for the behaviors observed in the actor-observer effect has been shown in attributional patterns comparing self-other explanations for personal preferences (Abramovitch & Freedman, 1981), risky driving behavior (Harré, Brandt, & Houkamau, 2004), alcoholic relapse of spouse (McKay, O'Farrell, Maistro, Connors, & Funder, 1989), comparative explanations of researchers in, and protesters against, animal research (Kemdal & Montgomery, 2001), model racer performance (Wolfson & Salancik, 1977), and decisions to participate in a hypothetical burglary (West, Gunn, & Chernicky, 1975).…”

mentioning

confidence: 91%

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The Actor-Observer Effect as a Function of Performance Outcome and Nationality of Other

Green

McClearn

2010

soc behav pers

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others, participants rated the influence of internal and external causal factors on both successful and unsuccessful examination outcomes. Predictions drawn from the integration of the actorobserver effect (Jones & Nisbett, 1971) and ego-serving bias theory (Miller & Ross, 1975) were tested. Results provided support for an extended overall actor-observer effect in that as the nationality of other became more dissimilar, individuals ascribed increasingly greater internal causation for the behavioral outcomes of others (as compared to self). Additionally, results provided support for the operation of a self-serving, self-other comparison process in that the actor-observer tendency emerged quite differently in successful, as compared to unsuccessful, performance outcome situations.Keywords: actor-observer effect, ego-serving bias, performance outcome, nationality of other.We focused on the question of how the reasons that individuals provide for their own behaviors and the behaviors of others is influenced by performance outcomes and nationality. This question is directly related to fundamental principles of person perception as described by attribution theory (Heider, 1958;Weiner, 1972), as well as to two general attribution principles that describe more specifically the manner in which individuals seek to explain or provide reasons for behavioral outcomes: ego-serving bias (Miller & Ross, 1975) and the actor-observer effect (Jones & Nisbett, 1971). Additionally, in investigating the SOCIAL

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 91%

The Actor-Observer Effect as a Function of Performance Outcome and Nationality of Other

Green

McClearn

2010

soc behav pers

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“…In a similar vein, novice motorists are typically overconfident about their driving skills (Mynttinen et al, 2009). Many young drivers believe that they engage in less risky driving than their peers (Harré, Brandt, & Houkamau, 2004) and are less likely than their peers to be involved in a collision (Glendon, Dorn, Davies, Matthews, & Taylor, 1996;Matthews & Moran, 1986).…”

Section: Applying the Model To Drivers In Other Jurisdictions And To mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although optimism biases are prevalent among all age groups, some studies have suggested that this bias is particularly pronounced among young people in the driving context (Harré et al, 2004;Matthews & Moran, 1986). Overly positive misperceptions about one's own driving skills and abilities may serve to reduce one's tolerance for the objectionable behavior of other road users (Jiang, Li, & Liu, 2008).…”

Section: Applying the Model To Drivers In Other Jurisdictions And To mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding driver anger and aggression: Attributional theory in the driving environment.

Wickens¹,

Wiesenthal²,

Flora³

et al. 2011

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied

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Two studies tested the applicability of Weiner's (1995, 1996, 2001, 2006) attributional model of social conduct to roadway environments. This model highlights the role of inferences of responsibility after making causal judgments for social transgressions. Study 1 employed written scenarios where participants were asked to imagine themselves driving on a major highway. The degree of controllability and intentionality of the driving act was manipulated experimentally by altering the specific event-related details provided to the participants. Study 2 extended this research to life events by having participants complete online driving diaries every 2 days, identifying their most negative/upsetting encounter with another motorist. The most anger-provoking event was selected from among 4 diary entries and participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire similar to that used in Study 1. Path analyses in both studies generally supported predictions derived from Weiner's model; the association between perceived controllability, intentionality, and dispositional locus of causality of the negative driving event and subsequent anger was mediated by perceptions of responsibility. Additional results in Study 2 suggested that low perceived controllability, intentionality, and dispositional locus of causality were associated with reduced perceived responsibility, which, in turn, facilitated feelings of sympathy. Anger was associated with aggressive responses to the offending driver, whereas sympathy was associated with prosocial responses. Recommendations were offered for improved driver safety, including the development of attributional retraining programs to combat self-serving attributional biases, teaching novice drivers about both formal and informal roadway communication, and the promotion of forgiveness among drivers

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“…Finn & Bragg, 1986; Guerin, 1994) and causal attribution in young drivers (e.g. Harré, Brandt, & Houkamau, 2004) suggests that there are a number of processes that may disrupt the identification process.…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐enhancement, crash‐risk optimism and the impact of safety advertisements on young drivers

Harré

Foster

O’Neill

2005

British J of Psychology

104

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In Study 1, young drivers (aged between 16 and 29 years, N = 314) rated their driving attributes relative to their peers. They also rated their likelihood of being involved in a crash relative to their peers (crash-risk optimism), their crash history, stereotype of the young driver, and concern over another health issue. A self-enhancement bias was found for all items in which self/other comparisons were made. These items formed two major factors, perceived relative driving ability and perceived relative driving caution. These factors and perceived luck relative to peers in avoiding crashes significantly predicted crash-risk optimism. In Study 2, an experimental group of young drivers (N = 173) watched safety advertisements that showed drinking and dangerous driving resulting in a crash, and a control group (N = 193) watched advertisements showing people choosing not to drive after drinking. Each group then completed the self/other comparisons used in Study 1. The same factors were found, but only driving caution significantly predicted crash-risk optimism. The experimental group showed more self-enhancement on driving ability than the control group. In both studies, men showed substantially more self-enhancement than women about their driving ability. Implications for safety interventions are discussed.

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An Examination of the Actor‐Observer Effect in Young Drivers' Attributions for Their Own and Their Friends' Risky Driving

Cited by 14 publications

References 36 publications

The Actor-Observer Effect as a Function of Performance Outcome and Nationality of Other

The Actor-Observer Effect as a Function of Performance Outcome and Nationality of Other

Understanding driver anger and aggression: Attributional theory in the driving environment.

Self‐enhancement, crash‐risk optimism and the impact of safety advertisements on young drivers

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