New Study Potentially Links Enjoyment of Loud Cars and Psychopaths
In the “Didn’t expect that” world today, we learn that loud cars and psychopaths may be related.
Often times car enthusiasts will modify their ride’s exhaust system to give them a little extra roar. If you’re on the road regularly chances are you’ve heard the souped-up mufflers every so often. While this type of behavior can be seen as obnoxious to most motorists, it could also suggest something far darker beneath the surface. According to a new study from Western University in Canada, there is a “strong correlation” between young men who enjoy extra loud cars, and the traits of sadism and psychopathy.
Studying The Connection Between Loving Loud Cars and Psychopathic Behavior
The study was conducted by Julie Aitken Schermer, a professor of psychology and management and organizational studies at Western University in London, Ontario. In an interview with CBC News, Schermer explained that her interest in this topic stemmed from her own personal experience with loud motorists.
“Every day we come across these loud cars and pickup trucks and motorcycles that are backfiring and I get startled,” said Schermer, “I thought, ‘Oh, who really wants to make this kind of noise?’ And so a typical academic, I went and did an extensive search and found nothing.”
With that, Schermer sought to conduct her own study profiling the most consistent character traits amongst fans of noisy car mods. According to a summary of her research from Psychology Today, college-aged students were asked how much they consider their car to be an extension of themselves. They were also asked whether they thought loud cars were “cool”, and if they would ever modify their car to make it louder.
In addition to these questions, subjects were also tasked with completing a self-assessment test under the Dark Tetrad. As its name implies, the Dark Tetrad details more sinister aspects of human behavior, such as sadism, psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism.
The Results – Loud Cars and Psychopaths
At the start of the study, Schermer hypothesized that fans of loud cars would consistently score highly for narcissism under the Dark Triad. This would make sense, given the natural assumption that drivers with souped up cars attach all those bells and whistles to be seen and heard.
However, it appears that, by and large, those who were tested scored higher in the personality dimensions of everyday sadism and psychopathy.
Schermer believes this could be cause for alarm, as she detailed further in Psychology Today. “The results are concerning in that they suggest that individuals who make their vehicles loud may be doing so to deliberately hurt others by disturbing them and that these individuals may be motivated by the negative state that they cause others.”
Admittedly, further research needs to be done on the matter. Until that happens you shouldn’t just automatically assume that anyone who likes loud cars is a psychopath out to hurt you. Is it obnoxious? Sure. Should you still roll your eyes at them and flip them the bird? Absolutely you should. Just don’t make assumptions about them while doing so.
