Racing Against Your HeartRacing Against Your Heart

Friedman, M., & Rosenman Friedman, M., & Rosenman R.H. (1959)R.H. (1959)

Traits of PersonalityTraits of Personality

Introvert- Tend to be reserved, Introvert- Tend to be reserved, withdrawn, and more focused on withdrawn, and more focused on ideas rather than social relationsideas rather than social relations

Extrovert- Tend to be sociable, more Extrovert- Tend to be sociable, more friendly, and are involved in events friendly, and are involved in events outside selfoutside self

Friedman’s ObjectiveFriedman’s Objective

Dr. Friedman noticed the unusual Dr. Friedman noticed the unusual wearing pattern of the material from wearing pattern of the material from his couches and chairs of his patients his couches and chairs of his patients having coronary heart disease (CHD), having coronary heart disease (CHD), which made him wonder, is there which made him wonder, is there something different between the something different between the overall behavior of his patients overall behavior of his patients compared to that of healthy peoplecompared to that of healthy people

MethodMethod

Both cardiologists set a model for Both cardiologists set a model for specific overt characteristics:specific overt characteristics:

Type A Personality- (Pattern A) Type A Personality- (Pattern A) – 1. An intense, sustained drive to achieve 1. An intense, sustained drive to achieve

one’s personal goals. one’s personal goals. – 2. A profound tendency and eagerness 2. A profound tendency and eagerness

to compete in all situationsto compete in all situations– 3. A persistent desire for recognition and 3. A persistent desire for recognition and

advancementadvancement

Method Continued...Method Continued...– 4. Continuous involvement in multiple 4. Continuous involvement in multiple

activities that are constantly subject to activities that are constantly subject to deadlinesdeadlines

– 5. Habitual tendency to rush to finish activities5. Habitual tendency to rush to finish activities– 6. Extraordinary mental and physical alertness6. Extraordinary mental and physical alertness

Pattern B- Opposite of A pattern. Contains Pattern B- Opposite of A pattern. Contains the absence of: drive, ambition, sense of the absence of: drive, ambition, sense of time urgency, desire to compete, or time urgency, desire to compete, or involvement of deadlinesinvolvement of deadlines

Method Cont’d...Method Cont’d...They contacted managers and supervisors They contacted managers and supervisors for people who fit patterns A and Bfor people who fit patterns A and B

83 men in each group- All male83 men in each group- All male

Average age in group A: 45Average age in group A: 45

Average age in group B: 43Average age in group B: 43

Tests were given to participants Tests were given to participants concerning history of CHD in parents, their concerning history of CHD in parents, their own heart history, hrs. of work, sleep, own heart history, hrs. of work, sleep, exercise, etc.exercise, etc.

Method Cont’d...Method Cont’d...

Tested on level of developed Tested on level of developed behavior patternbehavior pattern– 69 of 83 men in group A exhibited this 69 of 83 men in group A exhibited this

fully developed patternfully developed pattern– 58 of 83 men in group B exhibited this 58 of 83 men in group B exhibited this

fully developed patternfully developed pattern

All subjects were to keep a diary of All subjects were to keep a diary of everything eaten or drunk for one everything eaten or drunk for one weekweek

Method Cont’d...Method Cont’d...Diets were analyzed by dietitian who Diets were analyzed by dietitian who did not know of subjects’ identitydid not know of subjects’ identityBlood was taken from all subjects to Blood was taken from all subjects to measure cholesterol levels and measure cholesterol levels and clotting time. Independent clotting time. Independent cardiologist used for interpretationscardiologist used for interpretationsNumber of sunjects with Number of sunjects with arcus senilis arcus senilis were inspected through eye were inspected through eye inspections inspections

ResultsResults

Subjects chosen for both Group A Subjects chosen for both Group A and B were found to fit their profile and B were found to fit their profile developed by researcherdeveloped by researcher

Group A tended to be a little higher Group A tended to be a little higher on most measurements on most measurements

The cholesterol and illness levels for The cholesterol and illness levels for fully developedfully developed A and B types were A and B types were statistically significantstatistically significant

Results Continued...Results Continued...Cholesterol levels were much higher for Cholesterol levels were much higher for group Agroup A

The incidence of arcus senilis was three The incidence of arcus senilis was three times greater for group Atimes greater for group A

In group A, 23 of the subjects (28%) In group A, 23 of the subjects (28%) exhibited clear evidence of CHD, exhibited clear evidence of CHD, compared with three men (4%) in group Bcompared with three men (4%) in group B

Correlation stronger with fully developed Correlation stronger with fully developed A typesA types

CriticismsCriticismsAlternative explanations or results:Alternative explanations or results:

The greater number of cigarettes per day The greater number of cigarettes per day in group A is a factor that contributes to in group A is a factor that contributes to CHDCHD

Friedman and Rosenman stated that Friedman and Rosenman stated that group A had an equal number of light group A had an equal number of light smokers and heavy smokers both having smokers and heavy smokers both having CHDCHD

Group B, containing 46 heavy smokers, Group B, containing 46 heavy smokers, only two exhibited CHDonly two exhibited CHD

Criticisms continuedCriticisms continuedGroup A reported a greater incidence of Group A reported a greater incidence of CHD in their parents maybe making it CHD in their parents maybe making it genetic rather than a behavior patterngenetic rather than a behavior pattern

Friedman and Rosenman stated that of the Friedman and Rosenman stated that of the 30 group A men having a positive parental 30 group A men having a positive parental history, only 8 (27%) had heart disease history, only 8 (27%) had heart disease and of the 53 mean without a parental and of the 53 mean without a parental history, 15 (28%) had heart diseasehistory, 15 (28%) had heart disease

None of the 23 group B with a positive None of the 23 group B with a positive parental history exhibited CHDparental history exhibited CHD

Further Evidence Of Further Evidence Of Associations Of Type A Associations Of Type A Personality Scores And Personality Scores And

Driving -Related Attitudes Driving -Related Attitudes And BehaviorsAnd Behaviors

Anthony R. Perry and Dawn A. Anthony R. Perry and Dawn A. Baldwin (2000)Baldwin (2000)

Objective of this StudyObjective of this Study

• Replicate earlier findings regarding Replicate earlier findings regarding higher accident and traffic violation higher accident and traffic violation rates of Type A drivers in comparison rates of Type A drivers in comparison to Type B driversto Type B drivers

• Examine the role of Type A Examine the role of Type A personality with regard to specific personality with regard to specific driving attitudes and a wider range driving attitudes and a wider range of driving behaviorsof driving behaviors

MethodMethod

• 177 undergraduate mid-Atlantic 177 undergraduate mid-Atlantic university students (98 women, 79 men)university students (98 women, 79 men)

• Age range: 18-40 years. Mean of 22Age range: 18-40 years. Mean of 22

• Total Time required to finish was 50 min.Total Time required to finish was 50 min.

• *Years of driving experience and type of *Years of driving experience and type of driving (business or pleasure) were not driving (business or pleasure) were not available available

ProcedureProcedure

• The study was described as a questionnaire The study was described as a questionnaire study of driving attitudes and behaviorsstudy of driving attitudes and behaviors

• The Form T of the Jerkins Activity Survey was The Form T of the Jerkins Activity Survey was given to measure Type A personalitygiven to measure Type A personality

• A driving behavior and history questionnaire A driving behavior and history questionnaire were given for history of accidents and were given for history of accidents and violations. Measured:violations. Measured:– impatience while drivingimpatience while driving– frequency of law breakingfrequency of law breaking

Procedure continued...Procedure continued...

• The Driving Appraisal Inventory for The Driving Appraisal Inventory for assessing carelessness, drunken driving, assessing carelessness, drunken driving, vehicle safety, and self-evaluationvehicle safety, and self-evaluation

• The Driving Behavior Questionnaire was The Driving Behavior Questionnaire was used to measure aggression, law breaking, used to measure aggression, law breaking, confidence, excitement, and risk takingconfidence, excitement, and risk taking

• A general demographic questionnaire was A general demographic questionnaire was used to collect information about the used to collect information about the participants’ characteristics (e.g.. Age, etc.) participants’ characteristics (e.g.. Age, etc.)

ResultsResults

• For demographic and driving variables, For demographic and driving variables, results showed the lower the age, the higher results showed the lower the age, the higher correlation of aggression when drivingcorrelation of aggression when driving

• Men also rated themselves as safer driversMen also rated themselves as safer drivers

• Type A were associated with higher Type A were associated with higher incidences of accidents and law breaking, incidences of accidents and law breaking, more feelings of impatience, more more feelings of impatience, more aggressiveness on the road, and more risk-aggressiveness on the road, and more risk-taking while drivingtaking while driving

Results continued...Results continued...

• Comparison of Extreme A and B type Comparison of Extreme A and B type scores (scores (fully developedfully developed typestypes), ), reported A types involved in reported A types involved in significantly more accidents and significantly more accidents and displaying more aggression then type displaying more aggression then type B B

CriticismsCriticisms

• Although higher in accident rates, etc., Although higher in accident rates, etc., Type A groups rated themselves as Type A groups rated themselves as better driver than most on the road better driver than most on the road (there is no significant correlation (there is no significant correlation between Type A and number of tickets between Type A and number of tickets for violations)for violations)

• Drivers’ emotional state or personality Drivers’ emotional state or personality to affect their performance on the road to affect their performance on the road were not taken into accountwere not taken into account

Criticisms ContinuedCriticisms Continued

• When self-report measures are used When self-report measures are used to assess Type A personality (Jerkins to assess Type A personality (Jerkins Activity Survey), the distinction Activity Survey), the distinction between Type A vs. Type B can between Type A vs. Type B can become difficultbecome difficult

• Differences in geographic locations Differences in geographic locations and cultural differences are variables and cultural differences are variables that were not consideredthat were not considered