Type A Behavior
WHAT IS TYPE A BEHAVIOR?
The notion of type A behavior was developed in the 1950s, when cardiologists Milton Friedman and R. H. Rosenman noticed that most of their heart attack patients seemed to share certain behavior patterns. They observed that people with these patterns, which they called Type A behaviors, are more likely to develop to coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and other stress-related disorders.
These are some of the typical behaviors that Type A people exhibit. Check those that apply to you:
- Enjoying high-pressure situations
- Taking control of most situations
- Eating quickly, even when there is plenty of time
- Doing most things quickly, even when there is plenty of time
- Becoming angry when one has to wait for anything for more than a few minutes
- Doing more than one thing at a time
- Never slowing down to relax
- Interrupting others frequently
- Becoming annoyed when someone speaks too slowly
- Preferring to work under pressure or against a deadline
- Becoming bored quickly
- Becoming uncomfortable when just sitting around
- Taking work home every day
- Having a difficult time sitting still
- Becoming impatient with people who don’t work equally hard
- Needing to win when playing games or sports and becoming angry upon losing
- Rarely doing something special just for oneself
- Resisting changes in routine and new ways of doing things
- Not taking one’s full vacation time
- Focusing on small details and criticizing others
- Constantly thinking about work
- Not relaxing on weekends; always working on a project
- Arguing with people who disagree with how things should be done
- Becoming irritated when faced with obstacles
- Taking just about everything seriously
People who constantly engage in these behavior patterns produce large amounts of stress related hormones that damage heart muscle and upset the heart’s rhythm. For this reason, type A behavior is a serious threat to heart health; in fact, such behavior is considered as destructive as smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It may even intensify these risk factors when they are already present.
WHY DO PEOPLE ENGAGE IN TYPE A BEHAVIOR?
There are many reasons why people develop a pattern of type A behavior. The underlying factors could be any of the following:
Parental models.
If your parents set an example of impatient, driven behavior, you may be following in their footsteps.
Family-of-origin dynamics.
If type A behavior was rewarded in your family, you may have learned to be a high-achieving, impatient person to please your parents or to survive emotionally in your family.
Social factors.
Type A behavior is rewarded in American society. The American business world thrives on such behavior and admires those who exhibit it.
Rewards.
Winning feels better than losing. Some people get their self-esteem from competing and winning and are uncomfortable unless they are in a competitive situation.
Some people might argue that there is nothing wrong with type A behavior as long as a person is satisfied with his/her life and enjoys good health. Each person must explore the dynamics of his/her life and decide whether change is needed.
HOW CAN I CHANGE MY TYPE A BEHAVIOR?
Mental health professionals and physicians generally agree that type A behavior is bad for your health. If you are suffering physically or emotionally from the effects of this behavior pattern, you may wish to consider taking the following steps:
- Identify the aspects of your life with which you are dissatisfied and the specific things you want to change
- Set goals for changing unwanted behaviors and learning new behaviors
- Identify the areas of your life where you place too much pressure on yourself and others
- Identify the dynamics in your family of origin that contributed to your developing a type A behavior pattern
- Identify and explore the beliefs that underlie your driven behavior
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques
- Work fewer hours and stop taking work home with you
- Choose a noncompetitive leisure activity and do it regularly
- Build closer relationships with those you care about by spending more time with them, talking about your goals for change and asking them for feedback
- Teach yourself to do one thing at a time
- Ask for feedback on hostile, impatient behavior
- Develop your listening skills
- Challenge automatic thoughts that cause you to behave in a competitive, pressured way
- Read books and articles that will help you develop the skills that support your new lifestyle
WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Burns, David. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. New York: Avon Books, 1980.
Davidson, Jeff. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Managing Stress. New York: Alpha Books, 1997.
Friedman, Meyer. Type A Behavior: Its Diagnosis and Treatment. New York: Plenum Publishing, 1996.
Hanson, Peter. The Joy of Stress. Kansas City, MO: Andrews & McMeel, 1985.
Hanson, Peter. Stress for Success. New York: Doubleday, 1989.
Prevention’s Guide to Stress-Free Living. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1998.