Motonormativity
Motonormativity (or Car brain) is an unconscious cognitive bias in which the assumption is made that motor car ownership and use is an unremarkable social norm.[1]
Coinage
The term was coined by psychologist Ian Walker and colleagues in a 2023 study.[2][3]
Description and significance
Motonormativity is not a bias confined just to motorists, but is a feature of car-centric societies.[4] Walker has argued that a consequence of motornormative bias is that any attempt to reduce car use is not seen plainly for what it is, but interpreted as an attempt to curtail personal freedom.[4]
Examples
Walker has cited certain road safety campaigns targeting children as an example of motonormativity: by encouraging children to wear brightly coloured clothing to avoid being run over, such campaigns normalize the idea of motor traffic as an accepted danger others must adjust to, in a way which in other contexts would be considered victim blaming.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Walker I, Tapp A, Davis A (2023). "Motonormativity: how social norms hide a major public health hazard". International Journal of Environment and Health. 11 (1): 21–33. doi:10.1504/IJENVH.2023.135446. ISSN 1743-4955.
- ^ Walker P (2023-01-17). "'Motonormativity': Britons more accepting of driving-related risk". The Guardian.
- ^ Hawkins AJ (2023-01-31). "Cars are rewiring our brains to ignore all the bad stuff about driving". The Verge.
- ^ a b c Ro C (2024-03-07). "'Motonormativity': The bias that leads to dangerous driving". BBC Home.
Further reading
- Innocenti A, Lattarulo P, Pazienza MG (2013). "Car stickiness: Heuristics and biases in travel choice". Transport Policy. 25. Elsevier BV: 158–168. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2012.11.004. ISSN 0967-070X.