Task Difficulty, Type A Behavior Pattern, and Cardiovascular Response

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Abstract
Forty‐one young male subjects performed either an easy or moderately difficult arithmetic task with the opportunity to earn a monetary incentive if they did well. Cardiovascular (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and subjective responses were assessed immediately prior to and 5 min following task performance. Results indicated greater systolic (SBP) responses during the Pre‐task period for subjects expecting to perform the difficult task. Behavior pattern classifications based on the Jenkins Activity Survey revealed Higher Pre‐task heart rate (HR) elevations among Type As compared to Bs in the Difficult task condition, and greater Pre‐task SBP responses in As compared to Bs irrespective of task difficulty. There also was some evidence of an association between SBP reactivity and scores on the Thurstone Activity scale. Change‐scores reflecting SBP and HR reactivity were correlated in the Pre‐task period of the Difficult but not the Easy condition. Predictions regarding the impact of motivational arousal upon goal attractiveness were not supported, possibly for methodological reasons.