The differences of individuals with type A and type B behavior patterns and the women's awareness seminar on self-actualization and flexibility

• Main Author: Glass, Carolyn A.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: W&M ScholarWorks 1981
• Subjects: Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539618753; https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1963&context=etd

The relationship between psychological traits and the incidence of some diseases has captured the attention of researchers in medicine as well as psychology, education, and society. Rosenman and Friedman were pioneers in the discovery that a certain pattern of behaviors may be associated with the risk of heart disease. They designated these psychological factors as Type A behavior pattern and the absence of these factors as Type B behavior pattern.;Several behavioral techniques have been used to modify the Type A behavior pattern. It has been suggested that Type A individuals may need different types of intervention due to the educational, socio-economic or other differences. The techniques of humanistic psychology provide yet another method for changing the Type A behavior pattern.;This study explored the effectiveness of using a model designed to increase the self-actualization and flexibility of subjects in a small group setting. The subjects were classified as Type A, Type B, or indeterminant according to their scores on the Jenkins Activity Survey.;Subjects for the experiment (N = 30) included female community college students enrolled in the Women's Awareness Seminar; the control group (N = 37) was comprised of female community college students enrolled in an orientation class. All experimental subjects received a 30 hour, ten week course designed to increase self-awareness and self-actualization. The model included reading assignments, written homework, lectures, relaxation techniques, and experiential participation in class.;Testing for the effects of the intervention model consisted of pre- posttest administration of the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) (T(,C) and I scales) and the California Personality Inventory (CPI) F(,x) scale). The Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) was administered only as a pretest for classification purposes. The T(,C), I, and F(,x) scales were used as change measures for the effectiveness of the treatment; age and pretest scores served as covariates.;Predicted outcomes and results included: (1) Before treatment, individuals in experimental and control groups with Type B behavior pattern will be significantly greater self-actualizers and more flexible than Type A individuals on pretest measures of the POI and CPI. (Rejected). (2) After intervention, individuals in the experimental group will show a greater increase in self-actualization and flexibility than individuals in the control group by comparison of pre- and posttest measures of the POI and CPI. (Rejected). (3) After intervention, Type A's and Type B's in the experimental group will show a significant increase in self-actualization and flexibility as compared to Type A's and B's in the control group. This change will be measured by comparing pre- and posttest scores of the POI and CPI. (Rejected).;The three hypotheses were tested by one-way analysis of variance (T(,C), I, Fx, and JAS scores as dependent variables). Age and pretest scores served as covariates for hypothesis two and three. Hypothesis two was further tested by students' t-test to measure group change. All hypotheses were tested at the .05 level.;Results indicated that the intervention was not effective in changing the self-actualization or flexibility of the experimental subjects. No significant difference was found between Type A's or B's on pretest measures of self-actualization or flexibility. Age did not appear to contribute to the variance.