Cooperative Dyadic Interactions, Perceived Control, and Task Difficulty in Type A and Type B Individuals: A Cardiovascular Study

Eighty Type A and SO Type B young male subjects (assessed by both the Bortner and Thurstone Scales) cooperated on either a difficult or simple reaction time task, with either the same or opposite behavior type partner. Only the first member of each dyad was given control of responding A‐A, B‐B, A‐B, B‐A). Dyads performed with equal efficiency on the simple task, but when the task became more difficult to master a remarkable pattern of behavioral activity emerged. Deleterious or efficient task performance was largely influenced by the behavioral style of the two individuals within the dyad, and more importantly, by their control positions (which member had response control). Cardiovascular responses were monitored throughout the task and 10 min following task performance. During the task, increases in heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed for all groups regardless of task difficulty and control positions, although the magnitude of cardiovascular reactivity was greatest for Type As during the difficult task, especially if they lacked control of responding or were cooperating with the same type partner. Following the difficult task, Type As demonstrated greater magnitude and more prolonged cardiovascular reactivity, compared with Type Bs. The findings are briefly discussed within the context of the work environment.