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Personality and Stress Vulnerability

Individual Differences in Stress

Why personality matters

People do not respond to stress in the same way. Individual differences in personality influence susceptibility and coping with stress. Certain personality types and traits are linked with greater or lesser vulnerability to stress and related illness. We will explore three key types and the concept of Hardiness.

Stress Susceptibility Profiles

A comparison of two major behavioral patterns and their health implications.

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Type A Personality

Characterized by competitiveness, time urgency, hostility, and strong achievement orientation. More prone to intense stress reactions and elevated CHD risk (Friedman & Rosenman, 1974).
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Type B Personality

Relaxed, patient, easy-going, and less competitive. They experience lower levels of stress and tend to have better coping strategies.

The Type C Paradox

Type C individuals are agreeable but suppress negative emotion. This interaction creates a vulnerability.

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Why does emotional suppression lead to stress vulnerability in Type C personalities?
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Unexpressed negative emotions increase physiological stress responses. This prolonged activation can impair immune function and stress regulation.

Kobasa's Three C's (Hardiness)

Hardiness is a personality trait that buffers against the negative impact of stress. Introduced by Kobasa (1979), it consists of three key components:

1

Commitment

Hardy individuals engage fully in life activities, seeing purpose and meaning even in challenging situations.
2

Challenge

They view life changes and stressful events as opportunities for growth rather than threats.
3

Control

A belief that one can influence outcomes through one’s actions (internal locus of control).

Hardiness: Research Outcomes

Research confirms that hardiness promotes effective coping and resilience under pressure:

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Lower Stress Responses

Hardy individuals show lower physiological and psychological stress responses under pressure, including lower cortisol levels.
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Adaptive Coping

Hardiness promotes adaptive coping strategies like problem-solving and seeking social support.
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Better Health Outcomes

Studies linked higher hardiness scores with better physical and mental health under stress.

The Stress Response Mechanism

The following conceptual framework explains how personality mediates the stress experience:

Personality → Cognitive Appraisal → Stressor Response
Personality influences cognitive appraisal, perception of stress, and choice of coping strategies, which explains why two people exposed to the same stressor may have very different health outcomes.
Personality and Stress Deck
Term
Type A Personality

What characterizes Type A personality?

Answer
Traits

Competitiveness, time urgency, hostility, and strong achievement orientation.

Term
Type A Risk

Which personality type is linked to higher risk of coronary heart disease?

Answer
Risk

Type A personality.

Term
Type B Personality

What are key traits of Type B personality?

Answer
Traits

Relaxed, patient, easy-going, and less competitive.

Term
Type C Personality

How does Type C personality typically cope with stress?

Answer
Coping Style

By suppressing negative emotions and internalizing stress.

Term
Hardiness

What is hardiness in the context of stress?

Answer
Definition

A trait involving commitment, challenge, and control that buffers against stress.

Term
Components of Hardiness

Name the three components of hardiness.

Answer
Components

Commitment, Challenge, Control.

Term
Personality and Stress Response

How does personality influence stress responses?

Answer
Influence

It affects cognitive appraisal, perception of stress, and coping strategies.

Term
Type A Stress Reactivity

Why are Type A individuals more prone to intense stress reactions?

Answer
Reason

Due to impatience, hostility, and constant pressure on themselves.

Term
Emotional Repression in Type C

What health impact is emotional repression in Type C linked to?

Answer
Impact

Increased vulnerability to stress-related illnesses, possibly cancer.

Term
Hardiness and Stress Reduction

How does hardiness help reduce stress?

Answer
Mechanism

By fostering positive appraisal of challenges and proactive coping.

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🧠 Personality and Stress Quiz

1. Which personality type is most associated with competitiveness and a high risk of coronary heart disease?

Type A individuals are competitive and hostile, which can increase stress-related heart disease risk.

2. What trait is NOT a component of hardiness?

Hostility is linked with Type A, not hardiness, which involves commitment, control, and challenge.

3. Type B personalities generally experience:

Type B individuals are relaxed and patient, experiencing less stress.

4. Suppression of negative emotions in Type C personalities may lead to:

Emotional repression can increase stress-related health vulnerabilities.

5. Hardy individuals tend to:

Hardiness includes viewing challenges positively and coping proactively.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • AS & A Level
  • Research Methods
  • AQA