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Personality underlying motivation for type A behavior in late adolescents
A B Heilbrun1, L Friedberg, D Wydra
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, 30322, Atlanta, Georgia.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|November 26, 2013
Summary
Type A individuals exhibit emotional dependence and aggression, suggesting their competitiveness stems from a need for approval and a desire to dominate others, rather than mastery or achievement.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Type A personality is characterized by excessive competitiveness and stress vulnerability.
- Understanding the motivational underpinnings of Type A behavior is crucial for stress management and psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify underlying personality traits and motivational goals associated with Type A behavior in college students.
- To differentiate between potential drivers of competitive striving, such as approval seeking versus intrinsic achievement.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of personality profiles between Type A college students (males and females) and carefully selected peer controls.
- Assessment of specific motivational goals, including need achievement, mastery, task proficiency, emotional dependence, aggression, and approval seeking.
Main Results:
- Type A individuals of both sexes demonstrated higher emotional dependence.
- Competitiveness in Type A individuals appears linked to a desire for external approval.
- Increased aggression in Type A participants suggests a goal of negatively impacting competitors.
Conclusions:
- The study identified emotional dependence and a drive for approval as key motivators for Type A competitiveness.
- Aggression emerged as another significant goal, indicating a desire to exert dominance.
- Need for achievement, mastery, or task proficiency were not supported as primary motives for Type A behavior in this cohort.
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