Need for Fighting: A Psychoanalytic Exploration of Drivers Who Engaged in Physical Aggression in Traffic

ABSTRACT Physical aggression in traffic settings is one of the concerning manifestations of aggressive driving that is a threat to public safety and health. Despite the rich literature on aggression in traffic settings, studies investigating physical aggression in this context are limited. The current study aimed to investigate the reasons for engaging in physical aggression while driving, based on the accounts of participants who had been involved in such incidents. Since traffic settings involve clear rules that all participants must follow, along with an inherent element of rivalry among them, the study's findings were discussed from a Lacanian perspective to provide a theoretical explanation for the behavior. A qualitative methodology was used in this study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with five male participants, aged between 48 and 55, using convenience sampling. The interview transcripts were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Based on the results, three superordinate themes were detected: “irregularities as a cause for conflict”, “need to secure justice”, and “power struggle”. Experiences of physical aggression in traffic appear to be closely tied to power struggles, often accompanied by an intolerance for rule‐breaking. The participants' discourse also reveals underlying themes related to masculinity and gendered expectations.