Related Experiment Videos
Type A personality and poor driving habits.
1Richard Stockton State College.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|December 1, 1990
Summary
This study found no link between Type A personality traits and risky driving behaviors in college students. These results differ from previous research using a different personality assessment tool.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Traffic Safety
Background:
- Type A personality, characterized by competitiveness and impatience, has been theorized to correlate with risky behaviors.
- Previous research, such as Perry's 1986 study using the Jenkins Activity Survey, suggested a link between Type A traits and driving habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Bortner's Type A personality measure and self-reported poor driving habits among college students.
- To determine if gender influences the relationship between Type A personality and driving behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 71 college students (32 men, 39 women) completed Bortner's Type A personality inventory.
- Participants also self-reported their driving habits, focusing on instances of poor or risky driving behaviors.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant association was identified between Bortner's Type A personality scores and self-reported poor driving habits in the overall student sample.
- This lack of association was consistent when analyzing the data for men and women separately.
Conclusions:
- Bortner's measure of Type A personality does not appear to be a significant predictor of self-reported poor driving habits in this college student population.
- The findings diverge from prior research, highlighting the importance of the specific personality assessment tool used in studies of behavior.