Crab barrel syndrome: Looking through the lens of type A and type B personality theory and social comparison process (original) (raw)

Competitive Orientations and the Type A Behavior Pattern

Psychology, 2011

Differences in competitive orientations were examined in relation to two components of the Type A behavior pattern, Achievement Strivings and Impatience-Irritability, that have differential implications for achievement performance and health. As expected, hypercompetitiveness was not related to Achievement Strivings, but positively correlated with Impatience-Irritability. In contrast, personal development competitiveness related positively to Achievement Strivings, but was not related to Impatience-Irritability. Hypercompetitiveness was not related to actual academic achievement either, but personal development competitiveness was positively correlated. Hypercompetitiveness was associated with greater self-reported health problems, whereas personal development competitiveness was associated with fewer health problems. Results further corroborate the discriminant validity of the hypercompetitive and personal development competitive construct and suggest negative psychosomatic implications for the hypercompetitive individual.

Type A and self-evaluations: A social comparison perspective

Personality and Individual Differences, 1992

This paper provides an overview of several recent Type A models that focus on negative self-evaluations as a prominent characteristic underlying the Type A pattern. Following a presentation of these models, it is proposed that Type A individuals may use maladaptive social comparison strategies that contribute to their negative self-evaluations and negative affect. In particular, a self-worth contingency model of Type A is integrated with the social comparison literature to provide a framework for detailing aberrant social comparison processes. Using this model, it is proposed that the dysfunctional contingencies of self-worth endorsed by Type A individuals, along with their negative self-schemata, may help regulate and guide their maladaptive social comparison strategies. Finally, several of the more general implications of aberrant social comparison strategies are described. These include Type A interpersonal and social concerns, coping difficuties, and assessment and intervention issues.

The associations between Type A\B behavioural dimension and Type 2\4 personality patterns

Personality and Individual Differences, 1998

This study set out to examine possible associations between Type A:B behaviour as measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey "JAS# and Type 1:3 personalities measured by the Short Interpersonal Reactions Inventory "SIPRI#[ Comparisons were made both within a CHD risk group and a control group consisting of randomly selected subjects from the general population[ In the risk group no signi_cant associations between Type A:B and Type 1:3 were found[ However\ in the control group a signi_cant positive correlation was found between the Hard!driving and Competitive scale of the JAS and Type 1\ when all subjects were considered together[ The di}erence in _ndings within the risk group and control group were attributed to behavioural changes in the former\ which may have had a di}erent impact on JAS vs SIPRI scores[ Þ 0887

The relationship between social comparison processes and personality

Personality and Individual Differences, 1996

The relationship between social comparison processes and personality was examined in a sample of cancer patients (Study 1) and in a random population sample (Study 2). Previous studies showed that the need for comparison, its affective consequences and the tendency to make self-enhancing comparisons may be affected by individual difference variables such as Type-A behavior, self-esteem and chronic depression. The current study focused on Eysenck's (The Structure of Human Personality 1970)

Crab Syndrome in Business Life and Collectivist/Individualist Culture

International Journal of Business & Economic Studies, 2024

In the business world, employee competition can cause individual and organizational issues, potentially fueled by the "crab syndrome," where individuals view others as obstacles to success. In a workplace, it is thought that the manifestation of crab syndrome in employees may be caused by the culture they have. This study aims to determine the impact of collectivist/individualist culture on the crab syndrome. In this study, the one of quantitative techniques, the survey technique was used. Data was collected through surveys from different public institution employees. The analysis revealed that the collectivist culture had a positive, but statistically insignificant effect on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of the crab syndrome. Based on this result, it can be said that having a collectivist or individualist culture does not significantly influence individuals experiencing the crab syndrome. Considering that businesses can be affected by the cultural environment they operate in, it can be stated that this phenomenon is independent of the culture (collective or individualist) prevalent in the society.

Articulated thoughts of Type A and B individuals in response to social criticism

Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1992

Type B behavior pattern (as measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey) and extreme Type Bs (as measured by the structured interview) engaged in significantly more self-supportive self-talk than Type A individuals in response to social criticism. Types A and B subjects did not differ in their responses to the nonevaluative situation. These findings provide some support for the notion that sensitivity to criticism is a component of Type A. However, the prediction that Type As wouM respond with more self-deprecating or hostile cognitions than Type Bs was not confirmed.

Type A behaviour pattern and competition in adults and adolescents

1991

A set of behaviour patterns characterized by excessive hostility, competitiveness, and impatience have been identified in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and labelled "Type A". Since several studies have shown that the Type A behaviour pattern is an independent psychological risk factor for heart disease, attempts have been made to modify the behaviour pattern in both healthy subjects and patients suffering from CHD by altering physiological, cognitive and behavioural characteristics• The present research offers an alternative approach to the modification of physiological responses in healthy Type A adults and adolescents. It is proposed that the core elements of Type A such as competition could be exploited in order to induce physiological relaxation rather than excitement. Four experiments were carried out. The first study identified behavioural and physiological characteristics of Type A subjects such as increased heart rate while competing. The second experi...

Psychological correlates of the Type A behavior pattern

Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1981

Psychological characteristics of 384 adult males classified as Type A or Type B by the structured interview were examined. Subjects classified Type A differed significantly from subjects classified Type B on a number of psychological scales including measures of aggression, autonomy, extroversion, and impulsiveness but not on measures of psychological distress. The extent to which pencil and paper questionnaire assessments of Type A differ from structured interview ratings was also studied. Correlations between the various Type A questionnaire scales and the structured interview were found to be notably low. The use of Type A questionnaires and implications for Type A interventions are discussed.