Coronary-Prone Behavior and Reactance
A choice elimination reactance paradigm (Brehm, Stires, Sensenig, & Shaban, 1966) was used to examine the relationship between control expectancies and the coronary-prone behavior pattern. It was hypothesized that because of concerns for control, coronary-prone individuals (Type As) in a reactance situation would be more motivated to resassert control than noncoronary-prone Type Bs. These variables were manipulated factorially in a 2 (Type A-Type B) x 2 (no choice elimination-choice elimination) experiment. Reactance was measured by the subjects' reevaluations of the eliminated choice alternative. The results indicated that when a behavioral freedom is blocked, only Type As experience reactance.