Stress - Personality and Stress Flashcards
What is Type A behaviour?
Pattern of behaviour and attitudes that is associated with increased vulnerability to stress related illnesses, particularly CHD.
Give examples of Type A behaviour.
C – Competitive – always wants to win and be the best.
A – Anger – self-critical and easily frustrated.
T – Time pressure – always being in a hurry and doing several things at once.
What is Type B behaviour?
Opposite of Type A, people with Type B are relaxed, not competitive and not hostile.
What happened in Friedman and Rosenman (1974)?
3200 Californian men 39-59, given structured interview and categorised in behaviour. Followed for 8.5 years to assess health. 257 developed CHD, 70% were Type A. No difference in factors such as smoking and obesity. Suggests having a Type A personality increases vulnerability to heart disease.
Explain the relationship between Type A and stress-related illness.
Type A’s respond more quickly and more strongly to stressful situations. As a result they experience more wear and tear on cardiovascular system making them more prone to disease.
What are the problems Friedman and Rosenman (1974)?
- Correlational design – can’t establish cause and effect.
* Questionnaires – only assessing small part of personality, don’t get the full picture.
What are the general criticisms of Type A?
- Difficult to assess Type A, many may be a combination of A and B.
- Not all Type A go on to develop stress related problems.
Why might not all Type As go on to develop stress related problems?
- Some may have developed protective factors that protect against stress such as physical exercise or good social support.
- Some have high ‘Hardiness’ protects them from negative effects of stress.
What is hardiness?
Includes range of personality factors that defend against the negative effects of stress. Concept can explain why some are vulnerable to stress and some are resistant.
What are the three C’s?
Control – Belief you can influence what happens in your life.
Commitment – Sense of purpose and involvement in world around you.
Challenge – Life changes seen as challenges, or opportunities rather than stressors.
What does high hardiness mean?
Less likely to suffer from stress related illness than low hardiness.
What three studies research hardiness?
Jimenez et al (2006), Beasley et al (2003) and Turnipseed (1999).
What happened in Jimenez et al (2006)?
Firefighters with hardy personalities had reduced risk of suffering ‘burnout’.
What happened in Beasley et al (2003)?
Students with high hardiness showed reduced levels of psychological distress.
What happened in Turnipseed (1999)?
Nurses with high hardiness less likely to feel under pressure.
