Personality Dimensions in Reactivity and Cardiovascular Disease

The purposes of the present chapter are to discuss personality dimensions that have been or might be related to reactivity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and to point out some of the issues that need to be considered by researchers who are interested in the possible link between personality, reactivity, and CVD. A personality dimension does not influence reactivity or the development of CVD in some isolated fashion but in a framework of other variables and processes. One approach for considering the psychological influence of personality dimensions on reactivity and CVD is in the context of a model of affective arousal. Consequently, a cognitive model of affective arousal will be briefly outlined here that emphasizes process, interaction between variables, and transaction with the environment.