Type A Behavior

Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of

Type A behavior is a stress-producing behavior, characterized by aggressiveness, perfectionism, unwillingness to relinquish control, and a sense of time urgency. Type A people are highly driven, competitive, impatient, and aggressive. They feel rushed and under pressure all the time and keep one eye firmly glued on the clock. They are not only prompt for appointments but often early. They eat, walk, and talk rapidly and become restless when others work slowly. They attempt to dominate group discussions. Type A people find it difficult to give up control or share power.

The concept of Type A behavior was formulated almost 40 years ago, when two cardiologists noted that the majority of their heart attack patients seemed to have the following behavioral traits: impatience, a sense of time urgency, and unrelenting urge for recognition and power, unusual preoccupation with work, and an unusually competitive and aggressive attitude. They also exhibited characteristic activity patterns, such as talking and eating rapidly, frequent fidgeting and facial grimaces, clenching of the fist, tapping the feet or playing with a pencil in some rhythmic fashion, and a tendency to dominate conversations, often by interrupting or finishing the sentences of others. Such individuals were subsequently shown to manufacture increased amounts of stress-related hormones known to damage heart muscle, and cause serious disturbances in cardiac rhythm.

Type A behavior has been demonstrated to be as significant a predictor for heart attacks as high cholesterol, hypertension and smoking, and may contribute to these standard risk factors. Stress increases blood pressure, has a far more powerful effect on serum cholesterol than dietary fat intake, and many people smoke because they are under stress. It has certainly been suggested that certain Type A traits, particularly increased anger, hostility, and cynicism, may be particularly likely to cause heart attacks and sudden death. In addition, the ability to reduce Type A tendencies by behavioral modification may lower the likelihood of future coronary events.

How to determine if you are a "Tabber"?

The relationship between type A personality and heart disease has become a common knowledge, at least, among physicians and their afflicted patients. Criteria of type A behavior or personality still remain vague. Even the so-called experts don't diagnose it correctly. There are two cardinal features of type A, namely, "time urgency or time- impatience" and "free-floating (all pervasive and ever-present) hostility."

Following questions may be asked to determine the presence of time-impatience:

1. Do you eat fast and leave the dinner table immediately ? 2. Does your partner or any close friend tell you to slow down, become less tense, or take it easy? 3. Does it bother you a lot to wait in line at cashier's counter or to be seated in a restaurant? 4. Do you usually look at TV or read the paper while eating? 5. Do you examine your mail or do other things while listening to someone on the telephone? 6. Do you often think of other matters while listening to your partners or others? 7. Do you believe that usually you are in a hurry to get things done?

Pervasive and ever-present hostility can be assessed by the following questions:

1. Do you often find it difficult to fall asleep or difficult to stay asleep because you are upset about something a person has done? 2. Do you believe that most people are not honest or are not willing to help others? 3. Do you become irritated when driving or swear at others? 4. Does your partner, when riding with you, ever tell you to cool or calm down? 5. Do you often have a feeling that your partner is competing against you or is too critical of your inadequacies? 6. Do you grind your teeth or has your dentist ever told you that you have done so? 7. Does the car-driving errors of other drivers, the indifference of store clerks, or the tardiness of mail delivery upset you significantly?

Dr. Friedman has identified two psychological and six physical signs as major indicators of Type A Behavior (TAB). According to him these eight signs are almost always diagnostic of TAB.

The two psychological signs are:

1. Presence of impatience or easily induced hostility. 2. Constant apprehension of future disasters (which is not a symptom of an anxiety disorder or depressive disorder).

The six physical signs are:

1. Excessive perspiration of the forehead and the upper lip. 2. Teeth grinding. 3. Indentation of the tongue due to its chronic pressure against the top incisor teeth. 4. Tic-like retraction of the upper eye lid. 5. Tic-like retraction of the corners of the mouth. 6. Brown coloring of the skin of the lower eyelid.

Quiz to see if you have a Type A or B personality.

Are you mostly Type A or Type B Comparsion chart.

Application and Effectiveness on classrooms and similar settings

Assisting children in understanding and using effective adaptation and coping strategies must be based on the child's developmental level and understanding of the nature of the stress-inducing event. Teachers and parents can prevent and reduce stress for children in many ways:

• Help the child anticipate stressful events, such as a first haircut or the birth of a sibling. Adults can prepare children by increasing their understanding of the upcoming event and reducing its stressful impact. Over-preparing children for upcoming stressful events, however, can prove even more stressful than the event itself. Adults can judge the optimal level of preparation by encouraging the child to ask questions if he or she wants to know more.

• Provide supportive environments where children can play out or use art materials to express their concerns.

• Help children identify a variety of coping strategies (e.g., "ask for help if someone is teasing you"; "tell them you don't like it"; "walk away").Coping strategies help children feel more effective in stressful situations.

• Help children recognize, name, accept, and express their feelings appropriately.

• Teach children relaxation techniques. Consider suggesting to a child such things as "take three deep breaths"; "count backwards"; "tense and release your muscles"; "play with play dough"; "dance"; "imagine a favorite place to be and visit that place in your mind" (use creative imagery).

• Practice positive self-talk skills (e.g., "I'll try. I think I can do this.") to help in promoting stress management.

Other basic strategies include implementing sound positive discipline strategies, following consistent routines, enhancing cooperation, and providing time for children to safely disclose their concerns and stresses privately and in groups.

Physical conditions that play a role in stress and the overall learning process include school size, lighting, temperature and ventilation, noise control, crowding, sanitation and cleanliness, and accessibility. The teacher's personality and behavior, respect for diversity and individual differences, and effective classroom management play a role in helping to ensure that students feel a sense of belonging, security, and trust. It is critical that teachers and other school staff possess emotional wellness in order to manage their own lives as well as the lives of the children within their circle of influence. For more information see stress.

Critics and their rationale

Critics see Type A Behavior has hazardous to your health. Many feel that Type A Behavior should be transformed and changed for the good of your health. A third step process to transform your Type A Behavior developed by Carol H. Lankton is:

• Identify what you are trying to accomplish with this behavior or mind set.

• Then brainstorm, free associate; determine what you would need to do or have in order to accomplish this intention even better.

• Simply retrieve and organize these characteristics and resources experiences so as to implement the new arrangement.

Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations

Teachers need to take into account that all students will handle and express stress differently, even students from a variety of cultures. Teachers should try to be as understanding as possible and flexible to fit the needs of their students. Teachers should try to teach all students coping strategies for dealing with stress.

Signed "life experiences", testimonies and stories

I feel that I have many traits, as of lately, that identify me as a Type A but I feel that this is a result of over extending myself by working and going to school at the same time. Can this type manifest itself as a result of certain situations that one finds oneself in and consequently it is actually a situational response to overload? My natural tendency is to take my time and be deliberate but this is next to impossible right now. Also, I enjoy being creative but seem to have so little time for things I would like to pursue. B. Orenic

I am proud to be a Type A Personality, albeit a hybrid one. In the many articles I have read on the subject, it seems that psychologists place an "all or nothing" designation on the symptoms of Type A. I find that this is simply not the case. While there are certain ideals that drive my personality (getting everything done in the time allowed, expecting others to follow my level of passion for a topic, having small amounts of patience for setback), there are other items that do not stress me at all. It's a matter of putting things in perspective. If everyone was to look at their day to day behaviors, we would all find a little bit of Type A in there. S. Luxbacher

I am also a Type A personality. I find that this personality affects me in certain aspects of life, but not in others. I am very organized at home and school, but more so at school. I feel the need to be in control at school more than anywhere else. I always meet deadlines, but I think it helps me more than stresses me out. I don't like open ended assignments. I fidget, pace, or pay bills while on the phone, but I usually listen during face to face conversations. I agree with the above testimony that it is all about putting things in perspective, and being a type A personality fits in some places in my life, but not in others. -NMF

I am also a hybrid Type A personality. I find that when it comes to my work or certain aspects of my personal life, I have the need to be in control. For instance, I am having a tough time letting my husband control our joint finances without me and all of my input. Knowing that he is also Type A in certain aspects of his life helps me give and take with this aspect of our relationship. -Missy Legutki

I have been called "Type A" before and now I know that I mostly fit the mold after reading this discussion. I am usually high stressed about all the things going on in my life. I tend to dwell on my list of events, assignments, lesson plans, and appointments. I exercise to relieve my stress, but sometimes it just adds to my stress. I have been given the suggestion of going to a yoga class as a means to exercise. I've been a member at a gym that has the best Yoga classes in the area. I've been a member for over two years; I received the suggestion two years ago, but I still haven't gone. I am so "type A" that I worry how that yoga class will fit in with my other exercise classes.- L Keener

I initially read this article because I have always thought my husband was a Type A personality. Guess what? I am!! I really have never considered the notion that I was a type A personality but after reading this, I am. I fit all of the criteria and physical signs. Amazing! The biggest thing is that I stress about simple day to day things and can not get my brain to focus on anything else! I do find that exercise helps to relieve my stress, but find that if I can't find the time for exercise it makes me more irritable in the long run! GC

As the above contributor, I also read this article because I felt that it would be directed to my husband. In many instances it does. However, many of the physical traits are linked to me. My personality is not one to be considered Type A. I am more laid back. I do feel that exercise is a great stress reliever. -M. Youngblood

I am a classic Type A personality. I have a terrible time giving up control, I'm impatient, I can't sleep at night if something is bothering me, I hate to wait in lines, and I am always stressed about something. I have found that some of my Type A characteristics work well for me like always being on time. Exercise and lots of chocolate help me to relieve my stress. B. Harnden

Over the course of a number of years I have changed from an extreme Type A person to one who is much closer to a Type B. (Actually, I thought I had become a Type B but took the quiz linked to from this article and realized I'm still lower-end Type A.) I am healthier in many ways, enjoy life much more and sleep better. Reading this article made me wonder what actually causes Type A behavior. There doesn't seem to be much information on the subject, but I did find a study that linked it to a control issue. --- Keinen, G., & Tal, S. (2005). The effects of Type A behavior and stress on the attribution of causality. Personality and Individual Differences. 38 Issue 2, 403-412. --- It states that Type A behavior "is a coping response to a control issue". For me that makes perfect sense. As I worked on issues that caused me to feel a loss of control, my behaviors in turn became less Type A and more Type B. One of the links at the bottom of this page, Transforming Type A Behavior, links to an article by Go Inside Magazine that encourages us to "go inside" and change our Type A behavior, listing practical suggestions and providing encouragement. Though not based on research, it suggests another cause of Type A behavior. When asking "What are people with a Type A habit trying to accomplish exactly?" it states, "because it will finally prove to their parents that they are worthwhile". That statement seems plausible to me, although I personally don't think the process of kicking the habit of Type A behavior is as easy as they suggest. - Pam Olivito

I never realized how many Type A characteristics I actually have. I am not an extreme Type A person, but I am very impatient, never late, and when something really means something to me, I'll take control of it. When I was in college, I would inevitably get stuck with the "lazy" group. I felt like I had to take control of the group in order to get things done. I still feel that way now, but not nearly as bad. I guess you could say I've relinquished some of my control. Someday I would like to find a better mix of Type A and Type B traits. I don't think that someone should be purely one or the other. - A Clow

As a Marine I think you almost have to be a Type A or you will get run over or pushed out of the way. I know that I definitely have some of the Type a indicators, but some of them I don’t care about at all. A lot of people tell me to slow down, I can’t stand waiting around to do stuff, and I usually walk in circles or fiddle with something when I am on the phone, but I am never on time for anything.

I have been a Type A my entire life. I remember as a kid always having to first in everything and I really think that this helped me excel in sports. I also believe that this personality has helped me excel in the Marines Corps and in my next career. All and all I think my personality has served me well and I don’t know if I could be any other way. – David Troyer

References and other links of interest

Type A behavior: what you should know

Characteristics of "Type A" Personality

Do You Have a Type A Personality? Test

What is the type A personality?

Transforming Type A Personality

Nevid, J. S. and Rathus, S. A. (2003). Psychology and the Challenges of Life: Adjustment in the New Millenium, 8th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Incorporated.