| dc.description.abstract | A recent study by Hart and Jamieson (1983) reported
that Type A males recover from a psychosocial stressor
significantly slower than their Type B counterparts. It is
unclear, however, whether this result is a robust one, or
the result of an element of social comparison which was
present during performance of and recovery from the stimulus
task. The present study therefore reexamined this issue.
Sixty-one male and 61 female undergraduate university
students completed the Jenkins Activity Survey (Form T) and
were then randomly assigned to either a social comparison or
no social comparison group. Subjects in both conditions
performed the Stroop color word task under conditions
stressing time urgency and competition. In addition,
subjects in the social comparison group were informed that
their scores would be compared to the scores of other
subjects who had already participated in the study. Heart
rate was recorded before, during and after performance of
the task. Hart and Jamieson's study was not replicated.
The social comparison group which was expecting feedback at
the end of the recovery period showed significantly (p<.025)
less heart rate recovery during this period. No A/B
differences were observed either in response to or recovery
from the task. The failure to replicate the finding by Hart
and Jamieson suggests that the previous report be
interpreted with caution until further replications are
attempted. | |
