Type A components and psychophysiological responses to an attention-demanding performance task.

Abstract

Although Type A and B individuals appear to differ in psychophysiological responsivity, situations eliciting these differences have not been specified. The current experiment parametrically manipulated response speed in order to examine differences between behavior types in psychophysiological responsivity to this variable. Cardiovascular responses and performance in this paced task were compared to those from a task performed without explicit speed pacing in 24 businessmen classified as Type A or not. Only Type A businessmen showed a well-developed heart rate response in the self-paced task. In the experimenter paced task, the heart rate response of Type A's was most consistent when paced at fast response times; that of non-A's was most consistent when paced at relatively slow response times. Businessmen high in the Speed/Impatience component of Type A initiated anticipatory heart rate slowing later than non-A's and recovered less promptly. Overall relative to non-A's, A's appear to become readily involved and physiologically responsive to a task. Once involved, their responding is altered most by requirements for anticipation and relatively slow controlled response.