Motonormativity (also motornormativity, windshield bias, 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
editThe term was coined by psychologist Ian Walker and colleagues in a 2023 study.[2][3]
Description and significance
editMotonormativity is not a bias confined just to motorists, but is a feature of car-centric societies.[4] Walker has argued that a consequence of motonormative 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] This effect has been documented not just in famously car dependent North America, but around the world.[5]
Examples
editWalker 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]
Motonormativity may affect planning decisions so that, for example, a new hospital is built outside a city even though that makes it less accessible to city dwellers who do not have use of a car.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Kaitlin T (2023-05-23). "'Everyone has Car Brain'". Atlantic.
Further reading
edit- Goddard T (30 August 2024). "Windshield Bias, Car Brain, Motornormativity: Different Names, Same Obscured Public Health Hazard". Findings. doi:10.32866/001c.122974. ISSN 2652-8800.
- Innocenti A, Lattarulo P, Pazienza MG (2013). "Car stickiness: Heuristics and biases in travel choice". Transport Policy. 25: 158–168. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2012.11.004.
- Aston, Laura; Reynolds, James (2023). "We Need to Talk about Streets". Planning News. 49 (8): 16–17.
- Carspiracy - You’ll Never See The World The Same Way Again on YouTube