uestion 6 What’s the Type A Personality?
uestion 6
What’s the Type A Personality?
One of the most widely researched personality-types found to be especially prone to stress is the Type A Personality. This refers to individuals who are ambitious, achievement-orientated and highly competitive to the point of even being aggressive. They are impatient, speak rapidly, do things quickly and are always in a rush.
Although many are efficient and successful
in their work, achieving high standards of excellence, some studies have suggested
that the Type A personality is especially prone to coronary heart disease. There
is also other evidence that such Type A behaviour may lead to poor mental well-being,
heavy alcohol consumption or smoking, and even increased accidents at work.
Some researchers have found that the most successful professionals were not
those who were hard-driving and competitive, but rather, those who were relaxed
and had warmth, which attracted others. Contrary to popular belief, Type A does
not always spell success.
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uestion
7
If I’m Type A how can I change?
There are thus many good reasons why Type A behaviour patterns should be managed and controlled. Such Type A individuals should try to listen more rather than talk constantly and seek to be the centre of attention. Steps should be taken to slow down and cultivate patience. They should set aside time for reflection or relaxation.
The Type A trait, which is most strongly
implicated in causing coronary heart disease, is hostility. Undue hostility
and poor anger control give rise to a host of interpersonal and social difficulties
as well. It is important to resolve sources of hostility like grudges or dispute
with others. Anger control techniques include giving time and distance to appraise
situations before acting impulsively, learning to empathize with others and
practising assertiveness without necessarily being aggressive.
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uestion 8
Are introverts and extroverts more vulnerable?
Another popular way of classifying personality is to divide people into extroverts, who are sociable, cheerful, talkative and outgoing; and introverts, who are quiet, shy, withdrawn and unsociable.
Both personality types have different
vulnerability factors to stress. The extrovert tends to react with impulsive
and angry behaviour when stressed or are more likely to resort to smoking and
drinking alcohol. Introverts on the other hand, tend to react by becoming anxious
or depressed instead.
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uestion
9
Who is the strong or hardy personality?
So far, we have focused on vulnerable personalities, but it is interesting as well, to consider why some people are so resilient to stress. The ‘hardy personality’ who is able to tolerate stress very well has been described to possess:
Some people are especially vulnerable
to stress because they have established negative patterns of thinking. Emphasizing
only negative aspects of situations, or catastrophizing (making things seem
worse than they actually are) makes events more stressful for the individual.
Others have unrealistic expectations and set themselves up for failure. One
should have a good sense of our own strengths and capabilities as well as shortcomings
and weaknesses. Ambitions and goals should be tempered accordingly.
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uestion
10
Is there a ‘kiasu’ personality?
The local phenomenon of ‘kiasuism’ may render one prone to stress if the ‘fear of losing out’ becomes all consuming. Comparing with others who seem to be better off than us is an exercise in futility. The drive to compete for fear of failure is a stressful lifestyle indeed.
From our clinical experience we have observed
that people with this ‘kiasu’ behaviour trait are more prone to anxiety
disorders or even depression when they encounter stressful events like examinations
or interviews.
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