Topic Summaries

Individual differences in stress

A-Level > Psychology > AQA > A-Level Psychology Topic Summaries > Stress > Individual differences in stress
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Addiction

  • Personality type: research suggests that certain personality types are associated with an increased risk of developing certain illnesses such as coronary heart disease.
    • Type A personality: display traits like hostility and competitiveness that are positively correlated with developing coronary heart disease. 👥 Friedman and Rosenman (1974) suggested that people with Type A personalities were particularly vulnerable to stresses due to their intense personality. 70% of the 3000 males studied had Type A personalities and had developed coronary heart disease. This contrast to the type B personality who is usually viewed as more easygoing.
    • 👥 Temoshok (1987) theorised a type C personality which is heavily linked to developing depression. They are keen to please others but do so by suppressing their own emotions and feelings.
  • Hardiness: has been defined by having resilience and adaptability to unexpected changes in our everyday lives. Hardiness can be measured according to an individual’s level of commitment challenge and control.
    • 👥 Kobasa (1979) found significant differences in the effectiveness of managers and their ability to cope with stress in a sample of 670 American male managers. Those who seemed to cope well with stress also had high resilience which suggests that hardiness helps individuals cope with stress.
    • Research from 👥 Maddi (1975) found that out of 400 managers in the Bell Telephone Company during a period of reorganisation, there was a significant increase in the incident rates of stress related illness (e.g. coronary heart disease). Those who showed improved productivity and resilience had a decreased likelihood of developing stress related illnesses

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