Social Conformity and the Type a Behavior Pattern

Abstract

The relation between the Type A behavior pattern and social conformity was examined on a perceptual skill task. 23 extreme Type A and B persons participated in an experiment based on the Asch conformity paradigm. Type B subjects conformed twice as often as Type A persons ( p < .02). The same task administered to a subset of the sample and a larger normative sample indicated that social pressure to conform was responsible for differences in judgmental accuracy of stimuli (the conformity measure). The results suggest that Type A persons' resistance to subtle social coercion to conform may reflect their increased sensitivity to threats to their personal control. The findings are discussed in the context of reactance and control theories of Type A behavior.