The Deffenbacher Driving Anger Scale – Short Form (DAS-SF) is a psychometric scale used to assess anger and rage during driving. It is a shortened version of the original Deffenbacher Driving Anger Scale (DAS), developed to measure an individual’s tendency to experience anger in various driving situations.

Description

The DAS-SF consists of 14 questions that assess the intensity of anger an individual feels in different driving scenarios. The questions cover a range of common road situations that may provoke anger, such as irresponsible driving by others, which evaluates reactions to drivers making dangerous or careless maneuvers; slow driving, which measures frustration caused by slow-moving vehicles delaying traffic; violation of traffic rules, referring to reactions to drivers who break traffic laws; and improper lane use, addressing anger in situations involving poor lane management or aggressive behavior. Each question is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (no anger) to 5 (very intense anger).

Analysis

The analysis of the DAS-SF is based on the total score derived from the sum of all responses. The total score ranges from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating a greater predisposition toward driving-related anger. Although it is a shortened version, the DAS-SF can be used to identify which situations provoke more intense anger in the respondent.

Purpose

The primary goals of the DAS-SF are to evaluate the tendency for anger during driving, helping to understand how and when drivers experience anger, which may assist in preventing aggressive driving. It also assesses the potential risk that anger poses to driving safety and the likelihood of dangerous situations arising. Furthermore, it provides data to support the design of educational and intervention programs aimed at reducing anger and promoting safer driving behavior.

Scoring

Scoring of the DAS-SF involves validating the scale’s accuracy and reliability through research and studies. Statistical methods are used to determine thresholds that indicate high or low levels of driving-related anger.

References

The Deffenbacher Driving Anger Scale – Short Form has been extensively studied and documented in the literature. Key references include:
Deffenbacher, J. L., Oetting, E. R., & Lynch, R. S. (1994). Development of a driving anger scale. Psychological Reports, 74(1), 83–91.
Deffenbacher, J. L., Huff, M. E., Lynch, R. S., Oetting, E. R., & Salvatore, N. F. (2000). Characteristics and treatment of high-anger drivers. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(1), 5–17.
Lajunen, T., & Parker, D. (2001). Are aggressive people aggressive drivers? A study of the relationship between self-reported general aggressiveness, driver anger, and aggressive driving. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 33(2), 243–255.