Per one source, Florida is ranked the number one state with the worst drivers in the nation, and Texas follows close behind in second place with a reported 2.5 road rage incidents and 7.2 aggressive driving fatal accidents reported for every 100,000 residents from 2014 to 2023.
A separate source reports that the four most road rage-prone cities in Texas are Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Arlington. Another source adds that within the past decade, the top four states with the most road rage incidents, with guns involved, are Tennessee, California, Florida, and Texas.
Growing up in Bomb City and having driven throughout the state of Texas, I’ve experienced a number of these events in which firearms were brandished. Thus, road rage incidents like these are worth examining in regard to the distinction between distress and disturbance.
Road rage is defined as a motorist’s uncontrolled anger that is usually correlated with an action of another motorist and that is expressed in aggressive or violent behavior. From the perspective of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), this correlation does not imply causation.
REBT theory maintains that when an unexpected Action occurs and a person uses an irrational Belief about the situation, it’s one’s unhelpful attitude and not the undesirable circumstance that causes unpleasant cognitive, emotive, sensational, and behavioral effects as Consequences.
It’s worth noting that there’s a distinction to be made regarding healthy versus unhealthy negative emotions, as sorrow, shock, regret, despair, anger, confusion, or abandonment could all be subjectively deemed “unhealthy” or “healthy” by different people. The same is true of rage.
Of this personal difference, I stated in a blogpost entitled Unhealthy vs. Healthy Negative Emotions, “I’m referring to that which isn’t or is indicative of, conducive to, or promoting one’s desirable standard of health.” Thus, it depends on one’s standards as to what is or isn’t healthy.
Personally, fear, anger, sorrow, disgust, and surprise are viewed as naturally occurring emotions which are often described as “negative.” These feelings are arguably healthy, although sometimes challenging or even intense. According to one REBT source (page 71):
REBT conceptualizes this distress as healthy even though it is intense. Other approaches to therapy have as their goal the reduction of the intensity of negative emotions. They take this position because they do not keenly differentiate between healthy negative emotions (distress) and unhealthy negative emotions (disturbance).
Now, REBT keenly distinguishes between healthy distress and unhealthy disturbance. Healthy distress stems from your rational beliefs about a negative activating event, whilst disturbance stems from your irrational beliefs about the same event.
From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
As an example, if someone shoots at your vehicle while you’re driving (Action), then a bullet may pierce your window, travel toward your head, and cause a craniocerebral penetrating injury after striking you (Consequence). As well, an A-C event such as this can cause death.
Generally, this Action would be considered a negative event. Worth noting, a road rage situation of this kind can result in either distress or disturbance. Thus, what you Believe about being shot at is what causes fear, uncontrolled anger, or other unpleasant Consequences.
For instance, given the same Action, you could Believe, “I’m gonna die!” Rationally inferred from this assumption is a narrative such as, “I don’t wanna die!” Noteworthy, there’s a distinction to be drawn between descriptive and prescriptive self-narratives.
Describing that you don’t want to die is a logical and reasonable (collectively “rational”) conclusion, presuming that you appreciate your existence. Thus, it may be rationally inferred from your descriptive Belief, “Preferably, I shouldn’t die!”
Therefore, B-C connected distress is as follows. Your vehicle is shot at (Action), you Believe, “I shouldn’t die,” and then you experience fear (Consequence). I imagine that many, if not most, individuals in a similar circumstance may endure comparable B-C distress.
However, given the same Action and prescribing what should, must, or ought to (or not to) occur can cause B-C connected disturbance. This can occur concurrently with distress. Ergo, you may be rationally afraid while irrationally self-disturbed.
As an example, your vehicle is shot at (Action), you Believe, “I absolutely shouldn’t be placed in this situation, and I can’t stand being vulnerable, so I’m gonna teach this motherfucker a lesson” and then you experience uncontrolled anger while brandishing your own firearm (Consequence).
Rationally afraid from merely describing that you don’t want to die while irrationally angered into hostility, aggression, violence, and rage that occurs on the roadway when prescribing what oughtn’t to occur, illustrates the distinction between distress and disturbance.
The aforementioned REBT source adds, “REBT theory holds that the intensity of your healthy distress increases in proportion to the negativity of the event that you face and the strength of your rational beliefs” (page 71). The difference in outcomes relies on what you tell yourself.
Rather than remaining self-disturbed, an individual is invited to try Disputation which may lead to an Effective new belief that’s used in place of an unproductive self-narrative. With the ABC model, a person learns to stop needless suffering which is caused by unhelpful assumptions.
Likewise, REBT uses the technique of unconditional acceptance to relieve suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.
When thinking about road rage and how self-narratives can make a significant difference in outcomes, I’m reminded of the 2023 album Protea by Kota the Friend. In particular, I reflect upon the song “Road Rage,” featuring Aloe Blacc, as lyrics include:
[Chorus: Kota the Friend]
I do my own thing
Ain’t no cars behind me, I’m in my own lane
I ain’t in no rush, I don’t got no road rage
They can’t bring you down when you got your soul straight
And that’s just how it go
[Verse 3: Aloe Blacc & Kota the Friend]
Ain’t nobody gonna put chains on me
I ain’t with it now, now
I got things to do and places to be (Places to be)
I am building the impossible dream (Oh), everlasting
Gonna leave a beautiful legacy
And if you didn’t know
Nothing’s gonna stop me now, no, no (Nothing’s gonna stop me)
I’m telling you, everywhere I go
I’m gonna scream it out loud
We gon’ live our life
The chorus accurately describes that others “can’t bring you down.” Whether due to having “your soul straight” or using rational beliefs which sometimes result in uncomfortable distress, or using effective new beliefs which reduce distress altogether, you have options when on the road.
Similarly, the third verse speaks to empowerment. During a road rage incident, what’s stopping you from removing the self-applied chains of irrational prescriptive beliefs which cause disturbance? Nothing! Thus, we can “live our life” to drive another day. The choice is yours.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Apple Music. (n.d.). Protea Kota the Friend. Apple, Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/album/protea/1691233522
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2006). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge. Retrieved from https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/4b0e2552-2a18-4998-b44f-3a993148f7ac/downloads/REBT%202.pdf?ver=1627365797554
FWTX.com. (2025, March 4). Texas road rage: The fast, the furious, and the completely unnecessary. Retrieved from https://fwtx.com/news/texas-road-rage-the-fast-the-furious-and-the-completely-unne/
Heckler, A. (2025, March 11). Texas drivers are the 2nd worst in the nation for road rage, study finds. MSN. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-drivers-are-the-2nd-worst-in-the-nation-for-road-rage-study-finds/ar-AA1ADxGK?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1
Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Absolutistic should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/absolutistic-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions
Hollings, D. (2024, October 29). Cognitive continuum. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/cognitive-continuum
Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences
Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation
Hollings, D. (2022, October 5). Description vs. prescription. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/description-vs-prescription
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2024, December 30). Empowerment. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/empowerment
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Lived experience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lived-experience
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance
Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude
Hollings, D. (2024, June 2). Nonadaptive behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nonadaptive-behavior
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Preferential should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/preferential-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2024, February 27). Suffering, struggling, and battling vs. experiencing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/suffering-struggling-and-battling-vs-experiencing
Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The choice is yours. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-choice-is-yours
Hollings, D. (2022, November 2). The critical A. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-critical-a
Hollings, D. (2024, September 17). The E-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-e-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal
Hollings, D. (2025, January 9). Traditional ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/traditional-abc-model
Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux
Hollings, D. (2023, March 11). Unconditional life-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-life-acceptance
Hollings, D. (2023, February 25). Unconditional other-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-other-acceptance
Hollings, D. (2023, March 1). Unconditional self-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-self-acceptance
Hollings, D. (2024, March 18). Unhealthy vs. healthy negative emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unhealthy-vs-healthy-negative-emotions
Kota the Friend. (2023, June 20). Kota the Friend - Road Rage (feat Aloe Blacc) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HHzGCq6MIHU?si=KM1Rnyh-K1Z2i3OR
Master1305. (n.d.). Driving around city. Young attractive woman driving a car [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/driving-around-city-young-attractive-woman-driving-car_11877093.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=24&uuid=c31a2fd7-b78f-466a-a861-c138c112bfa2&query=road+rage
Nick. (2024, June 7). The #1 city for road rage violence is in Texas. News/Talk 95.1 & 790 KFYO, Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved from https://kfyo.com/the-1-city-for-road-rage-violence-is-in-texas/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Aloe Blacc. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_Blacc
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kota the Friend. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_the_Friend
Comments