These personality types refer to how people respond to everyday situations , as well as borderline situations, translating into stress. However, these personality patterns type A , B and C are used to assign individuals with different ways of manifesting thoughts and behaviours.

Personality and expression of stress

Friedman and Rosenman, cardiologists, after investigating the relationship of different types of personalities and cardiovascular diseases, revealed a direct correlation in the coping with stress, personality type and disease .

Different studies have been carried out. In a first study they were able to differentiate the types of personalities of the patients, highlighting those who waited calmly and those who could not sit for long and manifested restless movements through their arms, hands and legs or feet. These results were not initially accepted by the medical community; the change in interpretation came after the results of their formal research, as described below.

After this study, Friedman and Rosemann (1976) named a first behavior as Type A, and indicated that they had a higher risk of heart disease and corresponding high blood pressure compared to Type B,

Friedman and Rosenman conducted a longitudinal study to demonstrate the correlation between personality type and incidence of heart disease . It was published in the Western Collaborative Group Study, in which 3154 healthy men between 39 and 59 years old were studied over eight and a half years.

They completed a questionnaire with questions elaborated by Friedman & Rosenman : such as:

  • Do you feel guilty if you use your free time to relax?
  • Do you need to win in enjoying games and sports?
  • Do you move, walk and eat fast?
  • Do you often try to do more than one thing at a time?

After obtaining the answers, they concluded and differentiated the types of exposed behaviour type A and B.

Both personality patterns were prone to developing heart disease . But after differentiating certain habits such as smoking and certain life styles, it was possible to see how Type A people had practically the same portability of developing heart disease as Type B people.

After these data, and after eight years, the results obtained from the members in the study were that 257 of them had developed coronary disease. The final result was decisive, since 70% of the men who had developed coronary heart disease were type A personalities.

What do type A, B and C personalities look like?

After all this we can define the different types of personalities and traits that differentiate not only behavior but also the impact of anxiety on the body.

Type A

Type A individuals tend to be very self-demanding, competitive and self-critical . They are great fighters, they are not patient, they try very hard to achieve their goals, and once achieved they do not give them great satisfaction.

They tend to be ambitious, showing great commitment especially at the working level. They tend to be impatient, which in the long term makes them unproductive, after which they try even harder and this turns this behaviour pattern into a vicious circle, showing great exigency and even being able to manifest in aggressiveness.

On the other hand, a longitudinal study by Ragland and Brand (1988) also found that, as indicated by patients with Friedman’s Type A, they were more likely to suffer from coronary disease.

Type B

People with Type B behavior patterns tend to be more emotional, patient and more reflective, manifesting lower levels of anxiety, greater creative skills and imagination . They tend not to be competitive.

Type C

On the other hand, Type C behaviour patterns do not usually express emotions easily , omitting feelings, especially negative ones, such as anger. They can be extremely friendly, to avoid conflicts, prevailing compliance with social rules and patience.

The incidence of coronary heart disease

The main problem with type A and type B is the diagnosis of coronary disease. Some research (eg, Johnston, 1993) has focused on hostility , arguing that type of behavior is an important factor that leads to coronary heart disease.

Type C personality is characterized by people who tend to omit their feelings and repress their emotions rather than confront and seek solutions. They show greater susceptibility or behaviours or personalities associated with certain pathologies such as asthma, colds or cancer .

Dr. Gianaros, associate professor of the Clinical and Biological Psychology and Health programs at the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, investigates the mind-body connection and how psychological and social factors impact each other on a physical level . In 2017, the journal Biologica Psiquiatria published a study on this subject.

In his study he used a combination of psychophysiological methods combined with brain imaging to determine the neuronal correlations to cardiovascular stress reactions in situations of stress, depression, anger, rage, etc.

In this study, Dr. Gianaros aimed to analyse the neuronal responses caused by psychological stress and emotional regulation , and to establish the possible relationship between levels of preclinical atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes are the effect of a progressive deterioration of blood vessels through the accumulation of plaque in the arteries or atherosclerosis, which over time, reduces blood flow and can cause serious problems such as stroke and death.

Following these studies and other evidence, we see how permanent negative emotions and the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease correlate positively, possibly by increasing the levels of inflammatory chemicals that originate in the body. Today, research is continuing at the University of Pittsburgh, which is studying the relationship of the specific neuronal circuits that underlie this development, as well as the regulation of negative emotions related to pathologies such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Gianaros believes that these findings show that the same areas of the brain used to regulate emotions also regulate inflammatory responses, resulting in increased brain activity and regulation of emotions.

The attitude to life counts a lot

Optimism, laughter, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, meditation, rich social connections and coping strategies in the face of stress can help reduce the risk of heart disease as well as other conditions.

Daily practices of laughter, conscious meditation, equanimity and maintaining strong social connections can be part of a brain-based and body-based prevention strategy that will improve psychological and physical well-being in the long term.

It would be interesting to keep these studies not only on the behavioural pattern of type A, but also on type B and C.

And remember, you are the creator of your mind!