Individual differences in stress: personality types A, B and C and associated behaviours
People differ in how they respond to stress based on their personality type. Types A, B and C each describe a distinct pattern of behaviour that affects a person's stress levels and health risks.
Real World
Elon Musk is frequently cited as a textbook Type A personality — publicly setting extreme deadlines, interrupting interviews, and linking his identity to competitive achievement — while research links this pattern to elevated cortisol and cardiovascular risk. By contrast, Type B individuals like many palliative care workers display the unhurried style associated with lower chronic stress.
Exam Focus
Name Friedman and Rosenman's Western Collaborative Group Study in evaluation; always note the self-report limitation of personality classification.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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