Individual Differences In Stress- Different Personality Types A, B and C Flashcards
What is personality
Set of characteristics, traits, behaviours that remain relatively stable and makes us different from everyone else.
It can also make behaviour predictable.
What are the three personality types
A B and C
Outline personality type A
Linked to stress
Competitive, strive for perfection
Time urgent, impatient
Hostile and aggressive
More easily trigger their fight or flight so more prone to stress-related illnesses like CHD or high blood pressure.
Outline personality type B
Relaxed, easy going, laid back
Patient, not competitive
Fight or flight isn’t triggered as much so they’re less vulnerable to stress-related illness.
Outline type c personality
Introverted, people pleaser, self-sacrificing, compliment, avoids conflict
-they keep their emotions to themselves but it’s not healthy to never have an emotional response.
Often depressed- they please others at their own expense.
Related to stress illness’ as fight or flight is triggered but they don’t use any of the hormones released, impacts the immune system.
FRIEDMAN AND ROSENMAN’S study on type A and B personality types and CHD
3200 men all healthy- longitudinal study 8 1/2 years
-structured interview and observed them to assess personality type
-personality type determined by amount of impatience, hostility and competitiveness.
Findings-
8 1/2 years later 257 participants had developed coronary heart disease, 70% of which were Type A.
This was with smoking, obesity etc taken into account.
Type A also has higher levels of adrenaline associated w stress.
Evaluation of study
✅good sample size ❌beta bias all men
❌ethnocentric- culture bias western men.
❌correlational - could be extraneous variables.
✅- by understanding what traits can cause stress related illness we may be able to identify people at high risk and advise them on their behaviour to prevent it.
