A study conducted by Western University in Ontario, Canada, stated that those who have a car with a modified exhaust system have a high chance of having psychopathy and sadism. Dubbed “The desire for a noisy car with a modified exhaust is found in men who are more likely to be psychopathic and sadistic,” authored by Professor Julie Aitken Schermer.
The idea for the research came about after the professor observed many cars with modified exhausts in the city of London, Ontario, and wondered what kind of person wants the car with a noisier exhaust system than normal.
The study surveyed 529 college students who were asked if they thought loud cars were cool, if they saw cars as extensions of themselves, and if they would modify their cars to make them louder. Each participant took a personality test to test behavior — psychopathy, narcissism, or manipulation, for example.
The survey took into account only cars, with motorcycles, pickups and trucks, being left out of the survey. The professor believes that a study focused on pickup trucks may point to even higher rates of psychosis, since other studies have pointed out that the larger the vehicle, the more aggressive the drivers are.
“If cars are bigger and louder, the rates of psychopathy and sadism should be even higher,” the study said.
