1. Racing Against Your Heart
Friedman, M., & Rosenman R.H. (1959)

2. Traits of Personality
Introvert- Tend to be reserved, withdrawn, and more focused on ideas rather than social relations
Extrovert- Tend to be sociable, more friendly, and are involved in events outside self

3. Friedman’s Objective
Dr. Friedman noticed the unusual wearing pattern of the material from his couches and chairs of his patients having coronary heart disease (CHD), which made him wonder, is there something different between the overall behavior of his patients compared to that of healthy people

4. Method
Both cardiologists set a model for specific overt characteristics:
Type A Personality- (Pattern A)
1. An intense, sustained drive to achieve one’s personal goals.
2. A profound tendency and eagerness to compete in all situations
3. A persistent desire for recognition and advancement

5. Method Continued...
4. Continuous involvement in multiple activities that are constantly subject to deadlines
5. Habitual tendency to rush to finish activities
6. Extraordinary mental and physical alertness
Pattern B- Opposite of A pattern. Contains the absence of: drive, ambition, sense of time urgency, desire to compete, or involvement of deadlines

6. Method Cont’d...
They contacted managers and supervisors for people who fit patterns A and B
83 men in each group- All male
Average age in group A: 45
Average age in group B: 43
Tests were given to participants concerning history of CHD in parents, their own heart history, hrs. of work, sleep, exercise, etc.
Smoking, alcohol, dietary habits

7. Method Cont’d... Tested on level of developed behavior pattern
69 of 83 men in group A exhibited this fully developed pattern
58 of 83 men in group B exhibited this fully developed pattern
All subjects were to keep a diary of everything eaten or drunk for one week
Based on body movements , tone of convo, teeth clenching, gesturing, general air of impatience, and the subjects’ own admission of drive, competitiveness, and time urgency

8. Method Cont’d...
Diets were analyzed by dietitian who did not know of subjects’ identity
Blood was taken from all subjects to measure cholesterol levels and clotting time. Independent cardiologist used for interpretations
Number of sunjects with arcus senilis were inspected through eye inspections
Arcus senilis refers to the formation of an opaque ring around the cornea of the eye caused by the breakdown of fatty deposits in the bloodsteam

9. Results
Subjects chosen for both Group A and B were found to fit their profile developed by researcher
Group A tended to be a little higher on most measurements
The cholesterol and illness levels for fully developed A and B types were statistically significant

10. Results Continued... Cholesterol levels were much higher for group A
The incidence of arcus senilis was three times greater for group A
In group A, 23 of the subjects (28%) exhibited clear evidence of CHD, compared with three men (4%) in group B
Correlation stronger with fully developed A types

11. Criticisms Alternative explanations or results:
The greater number of cigarettes per day in group A is a factor that contributes to CHD
Friedman and Rosenman stated that group A had an equal number of light smokers and heavy smokers both having CHD
Group B, containing 46 heavy smokers, only two exhibited CHD

12. Criticisms continued
Group A reported a greater incidence of CHD in their parents maybe making it genetic rather than a behavior pattern
Friedman and Rosenman stated that of the 30 group A men having a positive parental history, only 8 (27%) had heart disease and of the 53 mean without a parental history, 15 (28%) had heart disease
None of the 23 group B with a positive parental history exhibited CHD

13. Anthony R. Perry and Dawn A. Baldwin (2000)
Further Evidence Of Associations Of Type A Personality Scores And Driving -Related Attitudes And Behaviors
Anthony R. Perry and Dawn A. Baldwin (2000)

14. Objective of this Study
Replicate earlier findings regarding higher accident and traffic violation rates of Type A drivers in comparison to Type B drivers
Examine the role of Type A personality with regard to specific driving attitudes and a wider range of driving behaviors

15. Method
177 undergraduate mid-Atlantic university students (98 women, 79 men)
Age range: years. Mean of 22
Total Time required to finish was 50 min.
*Years of driving experience and type of driving (business or pleasure) were not available

16. Procedure
The study was described as a questionnaire study of driving attitudes and behaviors
The Form T of the Jerkins Activity Survey was given to measure Type A personality
A driving behavior and history questionnaire were given for history of accidents and violations. Measured:
impatience while driving
frequency of law breaking

17. Procedure continued...
The Driving Appraisal Inventory for assessing carelessness, drunken driving, vehicle safety, and self-evaluation
The Driving Behavior Questionnaire was used to measure aggression, law breaking, confidence, excitement, and risk taking
A general demographic questionnaire was used to collect information about the participants’ characteristics (e.g.. Age, etc.)

18. Results
For demographic and driving variables, results showed the lower the age, the higher correlation of aggression when driving
Men also rated themselves as safer drivers
Type A were associated with higher incidences of accidents and law breaking, more feelings of impatience, more aggressiveness on the road, and more risk-taking while driving

19. Results continued...
Comparison of Extreme A and B type scores (fully developed types), reported A types involved in significantly more accidents and displaying more aggression then type B

20. Criticisms
Although higher in accident rates, etc., Type A groups rated themselves as better driver than most on the road (there is no significant correlation between Type A and number of tickets for violations)
Drivers’ emotional state or personality to affect their performance on the road were not taken into account
Could they be better drivers? Could it be situational (Control)? Environmental? Better at avoiding the police?

21. Criticisms Continued
When self-report measures are used to assess Type A personality (Jerkins Activity Survey), the distinction between Type A vs. Type B can become difficult
Differences in geographic locations and cultural differences are variables that were not considered