PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCIDENT-LOADED AND ACCIDENT-FREE YOUNG CAR DRIVERS

With the object of studying personality as a factor in accident causation, two groups of males were selected: one consisted of 22 young (20–27 yr. old) car drivers with a high record of traffic damages; the other, the same number of accident‐free control subjects. The groups were alike on a number of background variables. Compared with the control group, the accident‐loaded group more often (P < 0·001, at best) was found to be ‘hyposensitive to intraceptive perception’ as defined by indices from a spiral after‐effect experiment, two other serial experiments of personality, and an inventory (the MPI). This is an attribute indicative of individuals characterized by an extreme dependence on external factors (environment) and thus by weak inner control or delay of action.