ARTICULATED THOUGHTS OF TYPE-A AND TYPE-B INDIVIDUALS IN RESPONSE TO SOCIAL CRITICISM

To explore the hypothesis that individuals with Type A behavior pattern have an underlying sensitivity to social criticism, the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations paradigm was used to examine differences in articulated cognitions between Types A and B individuals in response to simulated taped situations involving social criticism and nonevaluative stress. Individuals with Type B behavior pattern (as measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey) and extreme Type Bs (as measured by the structured interview) engaged in significantly more self-supportive self-talk than Type A individuals in response to social criticism. Types A and B subjects did not differ in their responses to the nonevaluative situation. These findings provide some support for the notion that sensitivity to criticism is a component of Type A. However, the prediction that Type As would respond with more self-deprecating or hostile cognitions than Type Bs was not confirmed.