Personality

Dani Alonzo & Issa Cabason

 Racing against
your heart
Association of a specific overt behavior pattern with increases in blood
cholesterol, blood clotting time, incidence of arcus senilis and clinical coronary
artery disease by Friedman and Rosenman
Friedman and Rosenman, two cardiologists, linked psychology and health through
understanding the role of personality in the development and prevention of illness.
Friedman wondered if his cardiac
patients differed in some
important characteristics.
With Rosenman, they tested their
belief that people exposed to long
periods of chronic stress from Type
A-characterized behaviours were
more likely to develop heart
disease.
A model of specific behaviour patterns was developed which they believed was
related to increased cholesterol levels and eventually, Chronic Heart Disease (CHD).
Method:

Blood samples were taken to measure cholesterol levels and clotting time.
Instances of coronary heart disease was also determined, as well as the number of
participants with arcus senilis (opaque ring formed around the cornea of the eye
caused by the breakdown of fatty blood deposits in the blood stream).
What Would Your Personality Type Do?
Clotting time, cholesterol levels, incidences of arcus senilis and CHD were higher
for Pattern A participants.
The authors concluded that Type A behaviour patterns was a major cause of
CHD and related blood abnormalities.
RECENT APPLICATIONS:
Their research created cardiopsychology
The Type A concept has paved way for numerous studies.
The Type D (Distressed) was identified. The characteristics of this personality type
include persistent negative emotions, pessimistic view of the world, and social
inhibition. They were also found to be at risk of heart diseases.

CONCLUSION:
Tests have been developed to assess behaviour patterns.
Successful programs to intervene in the connection between Type A behaviour
and serious illness have been developed in response to the work of Friedman
and Rosenman.
CONTROVERSIES:
Subsequent studies found did not confirm the relevance of the TABP as a
predictor of CHD (Ragland and Brand 1988; Ragland and Brand 1988; Schulman
and Stromberg 2007). Many researchers changed the focus of their research to
assess whether some aspects of the TABP, particularly anger and hostility,
would be more closely linked with the development of heart disease.
The One,
The Many
Individualism and collectivism: Cross-cultural perspectives on self-ingroup
relationships by Triandis, Bontempo, Villareal, Asai, & Lucca
Harry Triandis delineates individualistic and collectivistic cultures, and how this
determines the behaviours and personalities of its members.
In differentiating them, variation in behaviour, interaction, and personality can
be explained.
Individualistic and Collectivist cultures
STUDY 1: US participants were employed to define the individualistic concept.
Questionnaires were given which provided questions leaning towards
collectivist and individualist behaviours and beliefs. Responses showed more
individualistic concerns among US participants.
STUDY 2: employed US, Japanese, and Puerto Rican participants to compare
relationships of individuals to their ingroups.
Questionnaires were designed to measure collectivist characteristics.
Japanese students were more collectivist than Puerto Ricans, but they were more
close to only some ingroups. As collectivist cultures become more Westernized,
they shift to greater individualism.
STUDY 3: collectivist individuals perceive better social support and satisfying
relationships while individualistic individuals feel lonely.
Questionnaires were given to US and Puerto Rican participants who rated their
perceived degree of social support.
Results showed that collectivism correlated positively with social support
(collectivism level increased, level of social support increased also).
DISCUSSION:
Cultural descriptions fall at
two ends of the continuum and
that an ingroup will be closer to
one end than the other. Some
specific groups may also
contradict the overall placement
of the culture in the continuum.
SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS AND RELATED RESEARCH:
The study paved the way for other collectivism-individualism studies.
Concepts of individualism and collectivism in a culture may play a significant role in
the physical health of its members. For collectivist cultures, heart attack rates tend
to be lower.
People from collectivist cultures who move to individualistic societies become more
prone to illnesses such as heart diseases.
RECENT APPLICATIONS:
One study examined loneliness across cultures. Results indicated that cultural
background affects cause of loneliness.
Collectivist and Individualist studies are not limited between countries. It also
applies to cultures within a country who have a varying levels of individualism and
collectivism.
1. Identity is achieved by ones own striving.

2. The self is restrained and adjusted to better fit the

social group.

3. Emphasis is on belonging to organizations or any

social group.

4. There is a we consciousness.

5. Task prevails over relationship.

6. Leadership rather than membership is the ideal.