Self-handicapping following learned helplessness treatment and the type A coronary-prone behavior pattern

Abstract

This investigation examined the choice of either a performance enhancing or a performance inhibiting drug among coronary-prone (Type A) and non-coronary-prone (Type B) men after contingent feedback (success) or non-contingent feedback (failure) on a task. All subjects expected to work on a similar task under the influence of the drug. Type A's in the failure condition chose the performance inhibiting drug significantly more often than Type A's in the success condition or Type B's in either condition. The results were discussed in terms of differences in attributional strategies among Type A's and B's, which could possibly mediate the relationship between Type A, helplessness and heart disease.