The Motorcycle Syndrome
ARMAND M. NICHOLI II M.D.1
1 Department of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
The author presents findings of an in-depth study of nine accident-prone motorcyclists and outlines a previously undescribed syndrome in an attempt to elucidate the psychological causes of the rapidly rising rate of motorcycle accidents and deaths. Examining the reasons why the motorcycle is particularly dangerous to these patients, the author explores the specific ego defect common to them, their adaptive and defensive use of the cycle, the cycle's symbolic meaning, and the unconscious conflicts it reactivates. He also suggests that this syndrome gives clues to understanding accident-prone drivers of other motor vehicles.
