evaluate type A+B

• supporting evidence

  • Freidman et al 1975 - asked individuals to complete an unsolvable puzzle
  • type A got stressed and annoyed compared to type B
  • type A had higher adrenaline despite no difference when resting - makes type A more prone to CHD
• contradicting evidence

  • Brand and Ragland - followed up 257 from the western collaborative study after 22 years look at long term effects
  • Type A were more likely to suffer heart disease BUT more likely than B to survive from a heart attack
• Gender bias

  • original study carried out on men, only with masculine and competitive traits considered to be male centered, women may no have the same response
  • Backer et al 1984 - women had similar levels of type A but also shown greater automatic arousal to stressors