The relationship between the Five Factor Model of personality and type A/B individuals.

Abstract

A study on how the characteristics of the Five-Factor Model of Personality correlate with Type A personality characteristics was conducted. The main focus was on the Neuroticism and Conscientiousness domain scales and their specific facet scales (Neuroticism: anxiety, angry hostility, impulsiveness, and vulnerability and Conscientiousness: order, dutifulness, and achievement striving). The participants were 80 Introductory Psychology students <n = 17 extreme Type A and n=20 extreme Type B) at a mid-sized Midwestern university, Participants were encouraged to sign up for studies to fulfill course requirements for psychology courses, The participants were given test packets consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R),and the Jenkin's Activity Survey-Form C (JAS). A multivariate !-test was performed to examine the differences in Neuroticism and Conscientiousness scores based on personality type. The multivariate F was significant. Univariate results showed no significance on the Neuroticism scale, but significance with the Conscientiousness scale. From the facet scales examined in this study, the Conscientiousness subscales (order, dutifulness, and achievement striving) were significantly higher for Type A than Type B individuals, Several of these traits-order, achievement striving, and dutifulness-are positive traits to have and perhaps it is just a matter of monitoring them. From these results, Type A individuals should not be "criticized" for their ways but taught more effective ways of dealing with time and their constant need for control. In addition, the Jenkin's Activity Survey may be used as a measure in determining Type A personality characteristics. This instrument, once only used to assess and predict one's susceptibilty to coronary heart disease, may also be used as a tool to group personality characteristics found within Type A individuals.