This review highlights consistent patterns in the literature associating positive affect (PA) and physical health. However, it also raises serious conceptual and methodological reservations. Evidence suggests an association of trait PA and lower morbidity and of state and trait PA and decreased symptoms and pain. Trait PA is also associated with…

Reviews studies in which the psychophysiological responses of Type A and B subjects were studied in various contexts. It appears that Type A's manifest greater psychophysiological arousal in solitary as well as interpersonal situations in which there is a moderate external incentive to accomplish something and an intermediate probability of…

Reviewed task-related differences in physiological arousal between Type A and Type B persons and found that differences are less consistent and of a smaller magnitude than what is usually assumed. Furthermore, the median difference in systolic blood pressure between Type A and Type B persons working on tasks was small. (Author/JAC)

Psychometric properties of Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale were examined. Evidence supported the theoretical notion of an individual difference variable in arousal-seeking. Other evidence, however, suggested that measurement problems continue to hamper research: the total score was moderately reliable, but the subscales were only marginally…

Discusses psychophysiological methods in relationship to personality research. The paper is organized in four sections: (l) advantages inherent in the use of psychophysiological measures; (2) psychophysiological constructs particularly well suited to personality research; (3) how to choose a set of psychophysiological measures; and (4) whether or…