PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL RELATED TO TYPE-A COMPONENTS IN ADOLESCENT BOYS

The association between psychophysiological responses (heart rate, con ductance and blood volume) and Type A behavior was studied in adolesce nt boys (n = 48) in computer-controlled experiments. Although psychoph ysiological arousal was related to the type of stress-evoking element, task-specificity did not result in significant psychophysiological di fferences between Type As and Nontype As. The indication is that physi ological arousal may be a constitutional characteristic of Type A beha vior. The multidimensionality of type A behavior must be considered in any investigation examining the psychophysiological Type A-Nontype A differences. Different Type A dimensions, together with previously fou nd psychological differences, were related to specific psychophysiolog ical reactions.