Allocation of attention and the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern.

Three studies with 88 undergraduates assessed the attentional style of Ss with the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern as classified by the Jenkins Activity Survey. Exp I, which used a dual-task paradigm, revealed that Type As focused their attention on central tasks; thus, they attended less to peripheral tasks than did Type Bs. Exps II and III, which used a single task performed in the presence of a distracting stimulus, indicated that Type As actively inhibited or suppressed their attention to task-irrelevant peripheral events that might distract them from task performance. Findings validate observations that Type As appear hyperalert (focused in their attention) but neglect task-irrelevant cues. Previous research has demonstrated that Type As fail to report fatigue as well as other physical symptoms of illness during task performance. To the extent that symptoms are analogous to peripheral events that distract from task performance, the data suggest that Type As suppress their attention to symptoms. Implications of the attentional style of Type As for the pathogenesis of coronary artery and heart disease are discussed. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)