Attentional control, high intensity pleasure, and risky pedestrian behavior in college students

David C Schwebel; Despina Stavrinos; Elizabeth M Kongable

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2009.03.003

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Attentional control, high intensity pleasure, and risky pedestrian behavior in college students

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Attentional control, high intensity pleasure, and risky pedestrian behavior in college students

David C Schwebel, Despina Stavrinos and Elizabeth M Kongable

Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.41(3), pp.658-661

05/01/2009

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.03.003

PMID: 19393819

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Abstract

Individual differences in temperament and personality are closely linked to motor vehicle safety. However, 13% of Americans who die in transportation-related injuries are not killed in motor vehicle crashes, but rather in pedestrian injuries. This study was designed to study links between two individual difference measures, attentional control and high intensity pleasure, and pedestrian injury risk among college students, a group at particular risk of pedestrian injury. A sample of 245 students completed a temperament questionnaire and engaged in a street-crossing task within an interactive, immersive virtual pedestrian environment. Individuals scoring high on attentional control (the capacity to focus and shift attention, one facet of conscientiousness) waited longer to choose gaps to cross within and showed some tendency to choose larger gaps after waiting. Individuals scoring high in high intensity pleasure (the tendency to desire novel, complex, and varied stimuli, one facet of sensation-seeking) were more likely to experience collisions with traffic in the virtual environment. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic

Adolescent

Adult

Attention

Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

Cohort Studies

Computer Simulation

Female

Humans

Male

Risk-Taking

Students - psychology

Universities

Walking

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Attentional control, high intensity pleasure, and risky pedestrian behavior in college students
Creators: David C Schwebel - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Despina Stavrinos - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Elizabeth M Kongable - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.41(3), pp.658-661
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.03.003
PMID: 19393819
NLM abbreviation: Accid Anal Prev
ISSN: 0001-4575
eISSN: 1879-2057
Grant note: R49/CE000191 / NCIPC CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/01/2009
Academic Unit: Research Administration
Record Identifier: 9984949470902771

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