The Type A Behavior Pattern and Attributions for Success and Failure

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between the Type A behavior pattern, as defined by both the Structured Interview and the Jenkins Activity Survey, to attributions for success and failure on a challenging performance task. Results revealed that JAS-defined Type A's and Type B's did not differ in their attributions for success, but Type A's made more internal attributions for failure than did Type Bs. This attributional difference was due to the Type A's tendency to attribute failure to a lack of ability. SI-defined Type A had no effect on attributions. These results are discussed in terms of the importance of failure for the JA S-defined Type A. Differences between various operational definitions of Type A and their relevance for coronary heart disease are also discussed.