AQA Psy A Stress and personality type

Type A or B?

Which is which?

Type A- Time pressured; competitive at work and social situations; Easily frustrated.

Type B- Patient; relaxed; easy-going.

Note: You may be asked to describe what behaviours you would expect to see given a personality type. Think of applications.

Study

Friedman and Rosenman (1960)

• 3000 American males.
• Interviews used to determine personality type.
• Type A where founnd to be twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD).

Evaluation-

• Large sample, very likely a representitive sample.
• Time validity- methods of copng with stress have improved since the 1960
• Ethnocentric bias- All Americans. Findings may not be generalised to other cultures.
• Self report techniques- May be social desirablity bias, i.e. particiapants may be lying.
• Mediating Factors…