Opening Insights
There are 3 types of personalities that have been related to physical health and disease.
What are they?
Informational Insights
Friedman & Rosenman (both cardiologists) developed a theory of personality types based on their observations of patients with heart conditions in their waiting room. Unlike most patients, who wait patiently, some people seemed unable to sit in their seats for long and wore out the chairs. They tended to sit on the edge of the seat and leaped up frequently.
What was unusual was that the chairs were worn down on the front edges of the seats and armrests instead of on the back areas, which would have been more typical. They were as tense as racehorses at the gate.
The two doctors labeled this behavior Type A personality. They subsequently conduced research to show that people with type A personality run a higher risk of heart disease and high blood pressure than type Bs.
Although originally called ‘Type A personality’ by Friedman & Rosenman it has now been conceptualized as a set of behavioral responses collectively known as Type A Behavior Pattern.
Type A individuals tend to be very competitive and self-critical. They strive toward goals without feeling a sense of joy in their efforts or accomplishments.
Type B personality individuals tend to be more tolerant of others, more relaxed than Type A individuals, more reflective, experience lower levels of anxiety and display higher level of imagination and creativity.
Type C personality individuals have difficulty expressing emotion and tend to suppress emotions, particularly negative ones such as anger. This means such individual also display ‘pathological niceness’, conflict avoidance, high social desirability, over compliance and over patience.
Possibilities for Consideration
Source: McLeod, S. A. (2014). Type A Personality. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/personality-a.html
Take a moment and examine…
- As you reviewed the material above, what stood out to you?
- What is the potential impact, economically and/or socially?
- What action is needed to stop or support this idea?
- You may want to consider whether you:
- want to be aware of,
- should become supportive of,
- would want to be active in this topic?
Add Your Insight
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.
LEONARDO DA VINCI