Date of Award
Spring 1986
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Guastello
Second Advisor
Bardwell, Rebecca
Third Advisor
Fox, Robert
Abstract
Conceptual problems exist in the research on Type-A behavior which seem inherent in what Price (1982) termed the descriptive analytical approach typically used. While the current research has provided a starting point in the study of the Type-A pattern by contributing broad descriptions of the behaviors and psychological characteristics common to coronary-prone individuals, the descriptions lack clarity and, thus; have not been particularly useful for programatic research or clinical practice. The current descriptions also: a) fail to account for the variety of characteristics associated with the pattern; b) address the possible relationships among the characteristics; or c)address factors regarding the acquisition or maintenance of the pattern. These existing problems seem to be based on a lack of theory regarding the Type A pattern. This study was designed to determine the possible role of ego development theory in the pattern. Specifically, the mediating effect of lower level ego functioning on the Type-A pattern was assessed. The subjects for this study were forty seven Caucasian males between the ages of 30-55. The subjects completed instruments assessing Anxiety, Identification Conflict, Hostility, Ego Development, and Type-A Behavior. It was hypothesized that, while there would be direct effects of Anxiety, Identification Conflict, and Hostility on the level of Type-A behavior, the indirect effects of these variables through the intervening variable of Ego Development would be greater. Path analysis was used to determine support for these hypotheses...