Personality Types and their Reactions to Stress

The division between two common personality types has been debated since the proposal of “Type A” and “Type B” in the 1950s by cardiologists. The two researchers, Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman, described a Type A person as highly organized, proactive, competitive, and ambitious, yet impatient and irritable (Friedman and Rosenman 1286). Their work was done in a time where the field of health psychology was only just beginning to gain influence in the realm of science. Psychologists were striving to gain an understanding of how a person’s mental health affected their physical well-being. Friedman and Rosenman were among the first to do just that, as their analysis concluded that those who displayed the characteristics of a Type A personality were twice as likely to develop early cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease as their more relaxed and reflective Type B counterparts (1295).

This discovery spurred researchers to find a scientifically valid reason for the correlation between personality and heart health. Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology, neuroscience, and neurosurgery at Stanford University, offers an explanation for this in a series of lectures on the topic of stress. He defines stress as any environmental effect that disrupts homeostasis, which is the combination of factors that allows an organism to maintain stable internal conditions. When an organism is exposed to something that poses a threat to its safety, hormones are released that ignite physiological changes, like an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This is a healthy response to a situation that calls for increased awareness and mobility, but it becomes unhealthy when the body forces this upon itself too frequently.

Sapolsky suggests that people with a Type A personality operate under a worldview that exposes them to stressors that constantly place an unnecessary workload on their heart. Their predisposition for “free-floating hostility,” as Friedman called it (1290), and a pervasive sense of persecution cause the Type A population to view neutral, coincidental inconveniences as deliberate attempts to sabotage their daily lives. Despite their ambition and competitiveness, they are prone to irrational anger and exasperation when faced with even the slightest amount of adversity. This reaction is amplified in the presence of time urgency. When the body is repeatedly coerced into automatic stress responses by this uptight and impatient way of thinking, the heart is overworked in a way that can cause permanent damage over time (Heilbrun and Friedberg 421).

The more heart-friendly alternative to the Type A personality is the Type B. Friedman and Rosenman described a typical Type B person as better at relaxing, less time-oriented, and significantly less guilt and anxiety-ridden (1294). The Type B population is obviously not quite as prone to stressful, self-imposed situations as those classified as Type A partly due to the fact that they lack a victim complex. They are more likely to brush off minor inconveniences and they instead focus their attention on creativity and exploration, as opposed to competition and achievement.

Although Type B personalities are less likely to experience detrimental stress-related effects on their heart health, there is no reason for the Type A population to consider themselves doomed to a life with coronary heart disease. A 1988 study by Alfred Heilbrun and Eric Friedberg found that Type A personalities were only subject to adverse health effects when they were incapable of moderating their behavior (430). The advantage of being a Type A is that they are suited to thrive in competitive, success-oriented environments. As long as they keep a close watch on how they react to stressors, they will not be significantly more vulnerable to excessive stress and coronary heart disease.

There is a great deal of evidence, including what is referenced above, that indicates a strong link between mental processes and physical health. The body is extremely vulnerable to the thoughts of its operator, and if he or she consistently produces thoughts and feelings that evoke a negative physiological response from the body, there will be negative consequences. As Friedman and Rosenman first postulated in 1959, heart health is one of those consequences. Closely examining and revising one’s reactions, whether thoughts or feelings, to the various stimuli that occur in everyday life can be a powerful tool in eliminating health risks.

I consider myself a Type B personality with the tendency to display Type A characteristics. I know this because I enjoy achievement, but I do not feel guilty or anxious when I fail. I devote my time to my creative passions and I value integrity and explorative experience over competition and success. As a result, minor inconveniences and time-based stressors usually have little or no negative effect on how I think and feel. That being said, there are certainly times where my Type A tendencies take hold and I do feel the physiological effects. I am occasionally involved in competitions, whether big or small, that indeed elicit anger and frustration. I hold myself to high standards and from time to time I feel very frustrated when I fail to reach them. However, coping with stress is rarely an issue, as I find that I am skilled at self-moderation. I can objectively evaluate my situation and reason my way to the appropriate solution without letting emotion get the best of me. My infatuation with the creative process and the beauty of simplicity bring about a lasting serenity that is rarely overcome by stress.

Works Cited

Friedman, M.; Rosenman, R. "Association of specific overt behaviour pattern with blood and cardiovascular findings". Journal of the American Medical Association 169 (1959): 1286–1296.

Heilbrun, AB J, and EB Friedberg. "Type A Personality, Self-Control, and Vulnerability to Stress." Journal of Personality Assessment. 52.3 (1988): 420-33. Print.

Sapolsky, Robert. "Robert Sapolsky: How a Chair Revealed the Type A Personality Profile." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.