Markings on cars–and people–as a clue to alcoholism and, therefore, the potential for violence.
"Be cautious of dealing with people driving cars with bumper stickers.â€
So concluded a recent paper by Colorado State University social psychologist William Szlemko and his colleagues, published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. The "surprising"results of the study on which the paper is based found that drivers of cars with "territorial markers"including bumper stickers, decals and personalized license plates were far more likely than others to express anger or rage by honking, tailgating and other aggressive behavior. The message of the sticker"peaceful and loving or angry or political"was irrelevant.
The researchers found that people who have no such markers on their cars get angry, too, but are less likely to act out on their anger. They may fume, but more ...
