The Relationship between Traffic-Related Causal Attributions and Human Factors in Driving
Keywords:
causal attributions; causal dimensions; driver behavior; driving skillAbstract
Attributional theories investigate the psychological consequences of causal attributions; that
is, perceived causes of events. Since causal attributions are related to behaviors in a wide range or
domains, it is possible that they are also influential in driving context. This study aims to conduct a
preliminary investigation of the relationship between causal explanations and subsequent behavior in
traffic context. A total of 397 participants (145 female, 252 male) completed a survey battery composed
of demographic information form, the Causal Dimension Scale-II, the Driver Skill Inventory, and the
Driver Behavior Questionnaire. Results showed that as opposed to the original use of the CDSII, causal
explanations in driving were grouped around 3 dimensions, namely personal control, external control,
and stability. Stability of weaknesses was negatively associated with positive behaviors and safety
skills; whereas the relationships were reversed for stability of strengths. Stability of strengths was also
associated with decreased ordinary violations and errors. This study was an initial research investigating
the relationship between causal attributions and human factors in driving. Results of it open new
windows for those researchers who are interested in the topic.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Gizem Fındık, İrem Özbay, Bahar Öz, Timo Lajunen, Türker Özkan
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