Effects of two self-control procedures on modifying Type A behavior.

Two groups of Type A subjects who received either anxiety management training focused on coping with anger and hostility or operant self-control procedures were compared with a control group. Treated subjects compared to controls showed significant reductions in the overall Type A behavior, hard-driving/competitive, and speed/impatience scores. The results supported the hypothesis that both self-control training methods provide the opportunity to adapt more effective coping strategies and to rely less on Type A coping techniques. Self-control procedures such as anxiety management training and operant self-control are promising methods for reducing Type A behaviors even in the Japanese culture. Implications of selecting the most effective treatment for each CHD-pathogenic behavior are discussed.