Type a behavior as a generally available strategy: Varying activation by tasks and instructions

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that the proportion of subjects resorting to Type A behavior (increased effort powered by arousal in response to a challenge) would be governed by the appropriateness of effort/arousal to the task. Sixty-nine male and female subjects classified as Type A or not-A responders by Structured Interview performed physical exercise, a vigilance task and a videogame with or without challenging instructions. For the (effort-salient) exercise, instructions produced a mean increase in arousal regardless of behavior pattern, while in the vigilance (low salience) task they produced no effect. Only in the videogame task did behavior pattern classification predict arousal in interaction with instructions. Effort, as measured by performance, showed a trend to increase with challenging instructions. Ratings by subjects of physical feelings paralleled these results, but positive, negative and emotional feelings did not show behavior pattern or instruction effects. The results support a view of Type A as a generally available response to which individuals show a differential activation rather than a character trait.