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Type A and Type B behaviour patterns, task type and sensitivity to noise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Annie Moch
Annie Moch*
Affiliation:
U.E.R. de Psychologie, University of Paris VIII, France
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Annie Moch, 205 Boulevard Malesherbes, 75017 Paris, France.
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Synopsis

The present study examined sensitivity to noise in subjects with Type A and Type B behaviour patterns as a function of the type of task being performed. Twenty Type A and 20 Type B subjects, selected by means of Bortner's scale (French version), were exposed to steadily increasing noise levels (68–110 dBA) while performing two tasks. The first was simple (crossing out) and the second was more complex (memorizing nonsense syllables). There was no difference between the groups on the simple task, but on the more complex task Type A and Type B subjects reacted differently, the former maintaining their level of tolerance while the latter lowered theirs. High investment and the desire to succeed may lead Type A subjects to ignore the acoustic environment and/or to deny the aversive aspects of noise as cognitive strategies for coping with stress.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , August 1984 , pp. 643 - 646
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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