Identifying Relationships between Self-Report Measures of Personality and the Type a Behavior Pattern

Abstract

Relationships between self-report measures of personality and the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) were examined in a sample of eighty-eight male and female adults. TABP categorization was based on the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS). Personality traits were measured by the Self-Monitoring Scale (SM), the Self-Deception Scale (SD), and the Impression Management Scale (IM). Predictions were that Type As would report lower scores than Type Bs on the SM and IM scales, but higher scores than Type Bs on the SD scale. Results indicated that independent of individual differences on other measures, age of subject, sex of subject, or social desirability responding that predictions were supported, with the exception that Type As reported lower scores than Type Bs on the SD scale. This suggests that self-report measures may be used to identify relationships between personality traits and TABP, and that Type As may be distinguished from Type Bs by trait tendencies toward low self-monitoring, low self-deception, and low impression management. This also suggests that distinctive Type A behavioral tendencies and coping strategies may be manifestations or consequences of specific trait tendencies.