Heart rate, anxiety, anger, and arousal reactions to enforced time-wasting: dependence on reactive uncontrol, work involvement, and dominance factors of ‘type A’

Abstract

The factor structure of ‘Type A’ was examined in an experiment derived from the observation of Frankenhaeuser et al. (1980) that ‘Type A’ people are abnormally ‘aroused’ when deprived of work. Questionnaire scales were used which dissected ‘Type A’(based on replicated factor analyses). The sample statistics for 21 female volunteers approximated the parent population statistics on orthogonal scales of Work Involvement (WI), Reactive Uncontrol (RU) and Dominance (D). The laboratory session involved reading for 15 min: (a) self-chosen ‘useful’ work material and (b) material judged by subjects (Ss) to be ‘useless’. Ss and trained observers used the same scales for rating anxiety, arousal and anger states during reading periods. Observers interpreted facial expressions from video-tapes. Finger pulse amplitude and tonic heart rate (HR) were recorded during reading periods. RU (but not WI or D) correlated negatively with HR level and positively with increases in both HR and observed arousal under time-wasting conditions. Combination of changes in HR and observed arousal in a multiple R gave optimum ‘prediction’ of RU. While much evidence supported Frankenhaeuser's (1980) hypothesis, the multifactorial nature of ‘Type A’ was demonstrated.