PSY307-Type A Personality
From PsychWiki - A Collaborative Psychology Wiki
Section 1
According to Psychology professor Douglas Stenstrom, aggression is defined as “The intent to harm as well as action.” Aggression is often used in everyday life to attain goals which are necessary for our existence (Baron, Richardson, 1994). Aggression is influenced by a variety of causes. One of these causes may be the individual differences in personality of people. Individuals who are classified with a Type A personality present more instances of aggression than those who do not have a Type A personality (Watson, Mayer, Bowler, 2006). According to Friedman (1996), Type A personality individuals are characterized by having, “an intrinsic insecurity where the need for accomplishment is necessary for maintaining self-esteem.” The two most common similarities amongst Type A individuals is their presentation of free-floating hostility, as well as their stress over time urgency ( Price, 1982). According to Glass, all the common characteristics of a Type A individual are developed in an attempt to control the environment and outcomes of situations (1977) (Watson, Mayer, Bowler, 2006). The aggression that is produced by Type A individuals is summed up by the Frustration- Aggression hypothesis. The hypothesis states that frustration leads to aggression (Baron, Richardson, 1994). In this manner, a Type A individual who is unable to execute his or her goal will become frustrated and present some level of aggression.
Type A personality can be diagnosed by measuring behavioral characteristics of individuals. These behavioral characteristics may be observed through surveys by asking the reactions that Type A people have to situational factors, such as their level of anger while driving, or the occurrence loss of sleep due to frustration, etc. (Friedman, 1996). Hundreds of studies on the relationship between personality and aggression were evaluated by Talley, Valentine and Benjamin (2006). The researchers drew similarities amongst all the studies and concluded that Type A personality was associated with higher levels of aggression under provoked conditions, such as task oriented conditions in which the participants could not reach their goal (Talley, Valentine, Benjamin, 2006). Therefore, the reaction of a Type A person can be manipulated by the situation, either by allowing them to achieve a goal, or by hindering their ability to do so.
Along with many other researchers on the subject, Friedman proposes several solutions to reducing the level of aggression that is exerted by Type A individuals (1996, 1984). Most of these solutions include modifying specific traits that are related to Type A personality, such as the trait of time urgency, or free floating hostility (Friedman, 1996). Those undergoing this behavior modification will create new beliefs through affirmations. One who is trying to reduce their tension and aggression that is caused by time urgency would read an affirmation that states, “Taking my time on the task will produce greater results.”
Section 2
The media provides real-world examples of situations in which aggression occurs. An example that pertains to Type A personalities is the story of Wanda Hollaway. Hollaway is a women who attempted to hire a contract killer to murder the mother of her daughter’s school rival ( Swartz, 1991). Hollaway’s daughter was not able to become part of her school’s cheerleading squad because her rival outperformed her at the try-outs ( Swartz, 1991). Hollaway believed that her daughter’s rival would be devastated by her mother’s death, therefore she would leave the cheer squad due to emotional problems ( Swartz, 1991).
Section 3
The Hollaway story displayed an example of aggression that could be displayed by someone with a Type A personality. Hollaway’s goal was for her daughter to join the cheer squad. When that goal was thwarted by another individual, she aggressed in order to control the situation and manipulate it to her own advantage. As Stated earlier, Type A personality individuals are characterized by having, “an intrinsic insecurity where the need for accomplishment is necessary for maintaining self-esteem.” (Freedman, 1996). The label of being a cheerleader would have been a boost in Hollaway’s daughter’s self-esteem. The failure for her daughter to become a cheerleader is a goal thwart that provoked aggression.
Section 4
A devastating example of real-world aggression is the Columbine massacre which occurred 10 years ago. The massacre was executed by two Columbine High School males. The shooter’s names were Harris and Klebold(USA Today, 2009). The two males were falsely associated with a group called The Trench Coat mafia (USA Today, 2009). The media also falsely stated that the shooters were targeting African Americans, Christians and school athletes (USA Today, 2009). This information is relevant because after realizing that these claims were bogus, the investigators looked more closely at the personalities of the shooters (USA Today, 2009). Investigators evaluated the personal diaries of each shooter and realized much more about the motives from each (USA Today, 2009). After thoroughly evaluating his diary, Harris has recently been found to be a psychopathic liar (USA Today, 2009). In his diary, Harris revealed wanting fame (USA Today, 2009). Harris wanted to “have the power of God”, and to attack those students who shunned him (USA Today, 2009). Harris also wanted to become famous after massacring as many people as in the Oklahoma City bombings (USA Today, 2009). Klebold on the other has been labeled a depressed teen (USA Today, 2009). The earlier mentioned statement about Type A personality contained , “an intrinsic insecurity where the need for accomplishment is necessary for maintaining self-esteem.”(Friedman, 1996). To thwart the goal of a type A personality most often produces aggression (Friedman, 1996). The goal of the infamous Harris was to have fame. In his diary, Harris states , “ I will get all of you who have left me out of everything fun” (USA Today, 2009). The goal of the infamous Harris was to have fame. Therefore, the fact that his fellow classmates shunned him would thwart Harris’ goal of becoming greatly known and popular. In the end, the two shooters murdered 13 people and committed suicide (USA Today, 2009).
◄ Back to How to explain aggressive behavior? page
