Psychology says that people who thank drivers when crossing the street don’t do it just out of gratitude.

When a car stops at a pedestrian crossing to let us pass, it is normal, almost instinctive, to raise our hand in gratitude. However, this gesture goes a little further than being polite to the other person, or at least that is what psychologists maintain. According to the experts’ conclusions, much deeper mechanisms hide behind this peculiar habit.

Why pedestrians wave at drivers when crossing the street

It’s no secret that traffic is not pleasant. It is usually synonymous with rush, stress and nerves, especially at certain times of the day. That’s why the simple act of raising your hand in gratitude is so striking. It is something that drivers also do, but it is much more evident in pedestrians when a car gives way to them.

Psychologists classify this gesture as a prosocial behaviorthat is, small selfless actions that are perceived positively in our interactions with others. This type of behavior includes other options, such as helping to carry shopping bags, sharing a location with someone from outside, or comforting.

Image | Jacek Dylag on Unsplash

Experts associate this behavior with kindness, one of the traits of the Big Five personality model. This model establishes that human personality is made up of five main traits, namely:

• Openness to experience.
• Responsibility (or thoroughness).
• Extraversion.
• Kindness.
• Neuroticism (or emotional instability).

Theoretically, people who automatically greet drivers when they let them pass show higher levels of empathy, warmth, friendliness, and willingness to cooperate. They adopt an altruistic attitude in their daily relationships with the rest of society.

It is the combination and intensity of each of these factors that ends up defining our character. By making this gesture towards the driver, the pedestrian also shows, unconsciously, that he is aware of the people around him. This type of behavior serves to remind others that public space is a place shared by everyone, and a friendly greeting can be enough to reduce the tension of a stressful situation on the road.

Via | Gry-Online

Image | Gry-Online