Most times we are left with questions like; what really drives you during work, why your colleague works less or more than you do at work, have you thought about your personality type.
Personality type is the psychological classification of individuals of different types, personality types are sometimes said to involve qualitative differences between people, personality types are sometimes distinguished from personality traits with personality traits embodying a smaller grouping of behavioral tendencies which are construed as quantitative differences.
Example of personality types are Type A and Type B personality theory.
The theory describes Type A individuals as outgoing, ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status-conscious, sensitive, impatient, anxious, proactive, and concerned with time management. People with Type A personalities are often high achieving workaholics, they they often push themselves with deadlines and hate both delays and ambivalence. People with Type A personalities experience more job related stress and less job satisfaction. Moreover Type A does not just have good qualities. Friedman, in his 1996 book dealing with extreme type A behavior, Type A behaviour: It's diagnosis and treatment, it was stated that dangerous Type A behavior is expressed through three major symptoms 1. Free floating hostility, which can be triggered by even minor incidents. 2. Time urgency and impatience which causes irritation and exasperation usually described as being short-fused. 3. A competitive drive which causes stress and an achievement driven mentality. The first of these symptoms is believed to be covert and therefore less observable while the other two are more overt . Type A people were said to be hasty impatient, impulsive, hyper-alert, potentially hostile and angry.
The theory describes Type B individuals as a contrast to those of Type A. Type B personality are noted to live at lower stress levels, they typically work steadily and may enjoy achievement, although they have a greater tendency to disregard physical or mental stress when they do not achieve. When faced with competition, they may focus less on winning or losing than their Type A counterpart, and more on enjoying the game regardless of winning or losing unlike the Type A personality's rhythm of multitasked careers, Type B individuals are sometimes attracted to careers of creativity: writer, counselor, therapist, actor or actress, professors and judges are more likely to be Type B individuals as well. Their personal character maybe enjoy exploring ideas and concepts. They are often reflective and think of the outer and inner world.
Furthermore, cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman described Type A personality behavior as potential risk factor for heart disease in the 1950s after an eight and a half year long study of healthy men between the ages of 35 and 59 Friedman and Resenman estimated that Type A behavior doubles the risk of coronary heart disease in other wise healthy individuals.
In conclusion, Our knowledge of the type A and Type B personality theory would help us to understand our personality and the personality of those around us and help us in working well with people around us and reach our full potential.
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