Prius Drivers and "Moral Licensing"

[KaraK]

I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice that some (definitely not all - I'm not making a sweeping generalisation here) drivers of Priuses and similar cars have a tendancy to behave in a condescending manner and act is if they were somehow "better" than those of us who don't drive the things, well it seems that this is actually a recognised behaviour called "Moral Self-Licensing" where people who do things that they think others will perceive as "good" and then show a tendancy to behave worse in other areas possibly because they believe that their "good" deeds out-weigh it in some fashion!

I came across the following in an article earlier today:

Science Mag article said:

In an interesting twist, about one-third of Prius drivers broke crosswalk laws, putting the hybrid among the highest "unethical driving" car brands. "This is a good demonstration of the 'moral licensing' phenomenon, in which hybrid-car drivers who believe they're saving the Earth may feel entitled to behave unethically in other ways," Piff says. (The Prius results were observed but not analyzed for statistical significance in the study.)

And that got me reading around the web on the issue and it seems like it's quite a big thing and people do it over all sorts of issues such as being "green" or racist etc. With some people even going as far as stealing!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18686-expose...

It never ceases to amaze me that the amount of things you encounter and just put down to someone being an arse can be such a widespread phenomenon! Have people on here encountered it at all?

[Simpo Two]

It defines a phenomenon very well. We've seen it before in the lycra-shorted jump-the-lights-brigade and the over-educated left who sniff condescendingly if you don't vote Labour.



NB: 'Toyota PIOUS'

[perdu]

I don't drive far, or often, these days since finishing work but when I did drive as part of my job I often saw people who I called "exemption drivers"

They drive as if they have been exempted from all the traffic rules. Overtake on solid whites, undertake near junctions where the left lane is "left turn only"

and most of all

They have been exempted from using their indicators. You want to know if you can go at a roundybout, will he be pulling out in front of you on the motorway?

Bugger you

He is exempt from everything

No names no pack drill about which make of slightly Bavarianish motor car drivers often exhibit these characteristics though

Not just Priusessssss!

And don't be surprised if this question gets whisked away to a less scientific place, now I wonder, where is rhetoric better recieved?

(I still drive and still see these characteristics being exhibited... It's not just me)

edit cos I mistook my punctuatings

Edited by perdu on Tuesday 28th February 14:05