Parental Child-Rearing Antecedents of Type a Behavior

Abstract

This correlational study sought to assess the formulations of Matthews (1978) and Price (1982) concerning the influence of parents' continually escalating performance standards, constant disapproval, and punitive or hostile methods of control in the childhood etiology of Type A behavior. Male college students (N = 186) were administered the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey, a self-report measure of Type A behavior, and the Parent Behavior Form, an instrument designed to assess perceptions of a variety of parental child-rearing attitudes and practices, including achievement expectations, methods of control, and acceptance or rejection. Males exhibiting greater Type A tendencies were significantly more likely to describe both parents as placing high emphasis on achievement, expecting competence in a wide variety of areas, and continually demanding better performance. They were also more likely to describe one or both parents as being strict, using frequent physical punishment or other hostile methods of control, and communicating frequent disapproval. Possible mechanisms by which such parental behaviors may promote Type A behavior in the developing child are discussed.