I have friends and clients that tell me that they are proud to be a type A personality. For them it is a badge of honor, a point of pride. It often seems that they view the type a personality as superior to others and proof of success. When asked by friends or in response to the needs of my clients, this is what I say:
The A type personality was identified by a cardiologist in an attempt to describe patients most likely to experience or die from a heart attack.
A type personality traits do not measure success.
To predict heart attacks, traits like aggressiveness and impatience are measured. These measure how well someone is managing stress. More aggressiveness more impatience indicates that stress is not being well managed.
When stress is not well managed, there are a number of predictable health complications that are likely.
Type A personalities rely upon short term solutions that have long term negative consequences. They rely upon aggression, impatience and hostility to overcome the momentary experience of stress. These approaches lead to more challenges in life, relationships and health.
Type A personalities are likely to experience more health complications like hypertension, heart attacks and death.
Type A personalities are likely to experience more difficulty in relationships including less intimacy, affection and loyality.
Type A personalities are likely to experience less satisfaction, pleasure and joy in life.
Type A personalities traits are not virtues to brag about, they are problems to be solved.
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