https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/video-bad-driving-car-accident-traffic-police-2289736
WHY WE CAN’T SEEM TO LOOK AWAY [FROM BAD DRIVING]
Psychologists attribute this fascination to “negativity bias”. Evolutionarily, our ancestors survived by paying attention to negative information, such as whether a strange new animal is a threat.
Today, we still spend more time and mental energy when looking at negative stimuli. Laboratory studies show we tend to learn better when punished than when rewarded. In decision-making, even when the intensity of information is equal, negative information has a greater influence than positive information on our judgements.
In other words, we are hardwired to pay more attention to bad driving. We can’t look away because such videos meet our psychological needs.
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DISPLACING OUR FRUSTRATIONS ON BAD DRIVERS
Unfortunately, research suggests that venting is ineffective and may even reinforce the initial anger and frustration.
This brings up more concerns. Our perspective tends to narrow if our indignations are reinforced and biases confirmed. We interpret the same information differently and are more sensitive to negative information. We become more attuned to and are more likely to seek out evidence for bad driving.
We perceive driving in Singapore more negatively and judge it to be more unsafe than it actually is - because memories of bad driving are more readily accessible.
LEARNING TO WITHHOLD JUDGEMENT
What can we do to avoid going down this rabbit hole?
We can look at Noble Laureate Daniel Kahneman’s characterisation of how our brain works in two systems: Type 1 thinking – fast and automatic, and Type 2 thinking – deliberate and effortful.
When we rush to comment on a video or publicly shame someone on social media, we often engage in Type 1 fast thinking and intuitive decision making. The key is to guard against this trigger-happy instinct.
Instead, let’s pause, withhold immediate judgement and try Type 2 thinking. Were there environmental factors that we haven’t considered? Does the video show the full story of the incident? Is what we watch truly representative of our full driving experience or just another eye-catching entertaining clip we can shake our head at after an uneventful drive home?
Although we have a negativity bias, the documented transformational effects of positive acts and thoughts can be powerful.
Just as venting can lead to a downward spiral, acts of graciousness and considerate driving can lead to a virtuous cycle...
