Journal Articles
Abstract:
Relationships between aspects of personality and the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) were examined in a sample of 60 middle-aged men. TABP classification was determined by the Structured Interview (SI) and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), while aspects of personality functioning were measured by the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and the Jackson Personality Research Form (PRF). It was hypothesized that Type A men would score higher than Type B men on the motivational drives of need for achievement and need for power, and that there would be proportionately more Type As than Bs displaying the Inhibited Power Motive Syndrome (IPMS). The Aggression and Defendence scales of the PRF were combined to form a measure of hostility (PRF-hostility) and relationships between need for power, hostility, and TABP were examined. Results showed that these motivational variables were not directly related to TABP. However, there was a strong interaction such that Type As high in need for power tended to score highly on PRF-hostility and Type Bs high in need for power tended to rate themselves as low on PRF-hostility. This suggests that need for power may play a role in the expression of hostility, and that this differs for Type A and Type B middle-aged men. © 1987.