On the impending death of the Type A construct: or Is there a phoenix rising from the ashes?

Abstract

The present paper argues that the Type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern when seen as a global construct has lost its usefulness. Recent empirical evidence is reviewed to justify this claim. It is clear that much initial promise of the Type A construct has not been borne out, and it is argued that only the hostility component of the Type A construct continues to possess predictive and concurrent validity and therefore usefulness. In addition, it is noted how the accumulating literature on the Type A construct is starting to converge with recent findings from the literature on early stage Essential Hypertension. The implications of these developments on the type of future research necessary are discussed.