TYPE-A BEHAVIOR PATTERN AND ATTENTIONAL PERFORMANCE

The main goal of the present study was to analyze the differential strategy Type A and B individuals use in the allocation of their available attentional resources, when they perform a stressful or involving task. In this context, we tested the hypothesis that Type A subjects focus their attention on task-relevant stimuli, ignoring, at the same time, task-irrelevant and environmental stimuli, which could interfere with their performance. To test this hypothesis, we have analyzed the performance (level of interference and error rate) of Type A and Type B subjects on a Stroop-type task, using a mixed 2×2×3 design-with the following factors and levels: Personality (Type A/Type B), Treatment (Control/Stress) and Attentional Condition (Global/Local/Divided). In summary, our present results, globally considered, showed that Type A subjects performed better (suffered less interference and made fewer errors) than Type Bs, although this effect was mainly due to the significant differences between Type A and Type B subjects in the Divided attention condition and under Control Instructions. Thus, our results only partially support the above mentioned hypothesis. These results are further discussed in relation to the difficulty level of the attentional tasks and the level of stress in the situation. © 1990.