TIME URGENCY AND IMAGERY IN THE TYPE-A BEHAVIOR PATTERN

This study explored the relationship between Type A Behavior Pattern, visual imagery, and ability for time estimation. 115 subjects filled o ut a questionnaire which assessed them for the presence of a Visual im aginary representation of time and scores on Type A or B behavior. Whi le completing the questionnaire, subjects made estimates of four timed intervals of 8 min., 22 sec. The treatment consisted of formal traini ng in visual imagery representations between time estimates of interva ls 3 and 4. Data were analyzed using a 2 x 2 x 4 mixed analysis of var iance in which the subject variables (Type A/B, visual imaginary repre sentation, and time estimate) were dichotomized using median splits. T he dependent measures were accuracy scores for each of the four estima tion trials. Subjects with training in visual imaginary representation estimated time more accurately: Type A subjects with training in visu al imaginary representation were the most accurate. All subjects impro ved over the four trials, with greatest improvement following training in visual imaginary representation. The most consistent improvement i n time estimates occurred in Type A subjects. Results replicated and e xtended previous findings associating visual imaginary representations with more accurate rime perception, especially for individuals scorin g as showing Type A behavior pattern.