Application of Self-Control Procedures to Modifying Type a Behavior

Abstract

The effects of the self-control procedure facilitating alternative behaviors on modifying speed and impatient behaviors of the Type A behavior pattern were evaluated with a multiple-baseline across meals arranged on a multiple-baseline across subjects design. The self-control procedure was a self-initiated approach designed with the intention of eliminating the antecedent stimuli evoking the time-urgent and chronically active behaviors at table and after meals. The multiple-baseline design could assess the capability of the self-control techniques to produce behaviorally significant changes of the target behaviors. The results indicated that the self-control treatment program of this study could help subjects to achieve significant increases in the number of minutes of eating and relaxing as well as clinically significant improvement in psychosomatic symptoms rated on daily logs following transfer to the self-control conditions. The effects of the self-control procedures were discussed in terms of acquisition of more adaptive behaviors.