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Type A and Type B Personality Theory

Type A and Type B personality theory describes two contrasting personality types. Type A individuals are ambitious, rigidly organized, and impatient, while Type B individuals are more easy-going and less stressed. The theory was first proposed in the 1950s and linked Type A behavior to increased risk of heart disease, though this link is still controversial. The theory persists in describing personality types and perceived health risks.

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Sharon Siow Chen
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722 views

Type A and Type B Personality Theory

Type A and Type B personality theory describes two contrasting personality types. Type A individuals are ambitious, rigidly organized, and impatient, while Type B individuals are more easy-going and less stressed. The theory was first proposed in the 1950s and linked Type A behavior to increased risk of heart disease, though this link is still controversial. The theory persists in describing personality types and perceived health risks.

Uploaded by

Sharon Siow Chen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Type A and Type B personality theory is a theory that describes two common,

contrasting personality types the high-strung Type A and the easy-going Type B as
patterns of behaviour that could either raise or lower, respectively, one's chances of
developing coronary heart disease. It was originally published in the 1950s.
Though it has been widely controversial in the scientific and medical communities since its
publication, the theory has nonetheless persisted, both in the form of pop psychology and in
the general lexicon, as a way to describe one's personality. Such descriptions are still often
equated with coronary heart disease or other health issues, and not always as a direct result of
the theory.
Type A personality behaviour was first described as a potential risk factor for heart disease in
the 1950s by cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman. After an eight and a half
year long study of healthy men between the ages of 35 and 59, Friedman and Rosenman
estimated that Type A behaviour doubles the risk of coronary heart disease in otherwise
healthy individuals. The individuals enrolled in this study were followed well beyond the
original time frame of the study. Subsequent analysis indicated that although Type A
personality is associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease, it does not seem to be a
risk factor for mortality. This research had a significant effect on the development of
the health psychology field, in which psychologists look at how an individual's mental state
affects his or her physical health.
Type A
The

theory

describes

Type

individual

as

ambitious,

rigidly organized,

highly status conscious, can be sensitive, truthful, impatient, always try to help others, take
on more than they can handle, want other people to get to the point, proactive, and obsessed
with time management. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving
"workaholics" who multi-task, push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and
ambivalence.
In his 1996 book, Type A Behaviour: Its Diagnosis and Treatment, Friedman suggests that
Type A behaviour is expressed in three major symptoms: free-floating hostility, which can be
triggered

by

even

minor

incidents;

causes irritation and exasperation usually

time

urgency

described

as

and
being

impatience,
"short-fused";

which
and

a competitive drive, which causes stress and an achievement-driven mentality. The first of

these symptoms is believed to be covert and therefore less observable, while the other two are
more overt.
Type B
The theory describes Type B individuals as a contrast to those with Type A personalities.
People with Type B personality by definition generally live at a lower stress level and
typically work steadily, enjoying achievement but not becoming stressed when they are not
achieved. When faced with competition, they do not mind losing and either enjoy the game or
back down. They may be creative and enjoy exploring ideas and concepts. They are often
reflective, thinking about the outer and inner worlds.

A simple division of preference or personality type is into Type A and Type B, which is
based broadly on anxiety and stress levels.
Type A
The Type A personality generally lives at a higher stress level. This is driven by

They enjoy achievement of goals, with greater enjoyment in achieving of more


difficult goals. They are thus constantly working hard to achieve these.

They find it difficult to stop, even when they have achieved goals.

They feel the pressure of time, constantly working flat out.

They are highly competitive and will, if necessary create competition.

They hate failure and will work hard to avoid it.

They are generally pretty fit and often well-educated (a result of their anxiety).

Type B
The Type B personality generally lives at a lower stress level and are typically:

They work steadily, enjoying achievements but not becoming stressed when they are
not achieved.

When faced with competition, they do not mind losing and either enjoy the game or
back down.

They may be creative and enjoy exploring ideas and concepts.

They are often reflective, thinking about the outer and inner worlds.

Discussion
This typing was first described in relation heart disease in the 1950s by cardiologists Meyer
Friedman and R. H. Rosenham. It subsequently appeared in the Jenkins Activity Survey,
which was originated to detect behaviours which lead to heart attacks (Jenkins, Ayzanski,
Rosenman, 1971).
Dr. Redford Williams, a cardiologist at Duke University, later showed that the main hazard
in this is when the Type A person has a tendency to anger and hostility
A subsequent study has challenged even this, throwing the whole validity of this typing as a
predictor of heart attacks into doubt.
Nevertheless, it is a simple typing difference and perhaps aligns with the Big Five factor of
'neuroticism', or tendency to anxiety.
In the Jungian Type Inventory, Type A looks more left-side STJ whilst Type B might be
more right-side NFP.
So what?
In use, you might notice your own tendencies towards anxiety and stress which, whilst not
necessarily leading to heart attacks, can still lead to many stress-related disorders.
In persuading others the tendency towards A or B will affect your strategy. Whilst
challenging a Type A would likely be very effective, it would not with Type B (where a
more reflective conversation could be a better approach).
http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/typea_typeb.htm

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