Type A Personality and Stress — And How It Compares to Types B and C

Personalities can be categorized in many ways. One of these is a classification into opposing types A and B. Whereas most people have a mix of type A and type B traits, a clear type A personality implies heightened stress sensitivity. What characterizes Type A personality and is it linked to stress?

Type A Compared with Type B Personality Trait

Type A and B personality traits are concerned with how people react to stress. Although the name implies a personality typology, it is more accurately conceptualized as a trait continuum, with Type-A and Type-B individuals at each end.

Type A personalities are distinguished by a constant sense of being pressed for time and a strong sense of competitiveness. Individuals with a Type A personality tend to be more stressed, dislike failure, and find it difficult to stop working even when they have achieved their goals.

They are driven, hardworking, and determined to succeed. They may also be aggressive or hostile in pursuit of their goals. Type A individuals are often quick and decisive, with a natural tendency for multitasking. However, this constant drive also places them under significant stress.

Type B individuals, on the other hand, are more relaxed, patient, and easy-going. They are in many ways the opposite of Type A individuals. While they may also work hard, they tend not to become overly anxious when objectives aren’t met.

How the Theory of Type A and B Personalities Was Born

Cardiologists Friedman and Rosenman discovered Type A behavior by chance when their waiting-room chairs needed reupholstering much sooner than expected. The upholsterer noted that the chairs were worn down in an unusual pattern — as if the patients were constantly sitting on the edge of their seats.

This observation led to research and eventually the concept of the Type A personality in 1976. The doctors found that Type A individuals were more prone to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure than Type B individuals.

Today, this is known as the Type A Behavior Pattern rather than a fixed personality type.

Characteristics of Type A Personality

• Competitiveness: Constant striving for success, often without enjoying the process.
• Impatience: Discomfort with delays, scheduling too tightly, multitasking excessively.
• Hostility: A tendency toward anger, suspicion, and lack of compassion, sometimes expressed aggressively.

Hostility, in particular, has been identified as a key predictor of heart disease — even more so than the broader Type A pattern.

Type B and C Personalities

Type B personalities are laid-back, creative, and reflective. They tend to be more accepting of others and manage stress more calmly.

Type C personalities, first described by Green and Morris, are detail-oriented, conflict-avoidant, and emotionally repressive. They aim to please others and are often excessively compliant. Some research suggests they may be more prone to certain illnesses, including cancer, due to chronic emotional suppression.

Type A Personality and Stress

Friedman and Rosenman found that those with Type A traits had a doubled risk of developing cardiovascular issues compared to Type B individuals. Type A personalities are more likely to activate the "fight-or-flight" response in reaction to everyday stressors, leading to elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

Over time, this chronic activation increases the risk of stress-related diseases, particularly heart conditions.

Limitations of the ABC Personality Model

Later research questioned the oversimplification of personality into fixed types. Friedman and Rosenman originally studied only men, and further studies showed that women with Type A traits did not show the same cardiovascular risk. Women may be more likely to use a "tend-and-befriend" response, involving care and social bonding, driven by oxytocin.

Additionally, some individuals may appear to have a Type B personality but conceal Type A traits like competitiveness or aggression. Personality is complex and fluid, and many people show traits from multiple types.

Hostility: A Clear Link to Stress

Despite these limitations, one Type A trait — hostility — remains a strong and reliable predictor of stress and related illnesses. Hostility can be seen as the “fight” part of the fight-or-flight response, closely linking it to chronic stress. Elevated stress hormones due to ongoing hostility contribute to long-term health problems.

If you recognize this trait in yourself, consider adopting calming routines: listening to music, enjoying hobbies, exercising, or spending quality time with loved ones. Your mind and body will benefit.