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Type A behavior, competitive achievement-striving, and cheating among college students
A R Perry1, K M Kane, K J Bernesser
1Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221-0376.
Psychological Reports
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Type A personality students cheat more than Type B students in competitive and noncompetitive settings. This behavior may stem from a need to achieve success when expectations are unmet.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Personality traits influence decision-making and behavior.
- The Type A and Type B personality classifications offer a framework for understanding behavioral differences.
- Cheating behavior is a complex phenomenon influenced by situational and individual factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Type A/B personality traits and cheating behavior.
- To examine how competitive and noncompetitive situations affect cheating tendencies.
- To understand the psychological underpinnings of cheating in relation to personality.
Main Methods:
- Participants: 80 college students (40 Type A, 40 Type B).
- Design: Examination of cheating behavior in both competitive and noncompetitive scenarios.
- Data Collection: Assessment of personality types and observed cheating instances.
Main Results:
- Type A-scoring students demonstrated a higher propensity to cheat compared to Type B-scoring students.
- This difference in cheating behavior persisted regardless of the competitive nature of the situation.
- Cheating was more pronounced in Type A individuals when faced with unmet success expectations.
Conclusions:
- Personality type is a significant predictor of cheating behavior.
- Situational factors, such as competition, do not negate the influence of personality on cheating.
- Type A individuals may resort to cheating as a strategy to meet success expectations in challenging environments.