According to scientific literature, Type A personality describes someone who is aggressively involved in a chronic, incessant struggle to achieve more and more in less and less time. The defining characteristics of the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) are a strong achievement orientation, hostility, extreme competitiveness, desire for recognition and advancement, and feelings of being under great time pressure.

Some of the behaviors that make up TABP, such as competitiveness and drive, are quite positive and would make for super-achievers and high-powered people, if they weren't so excessive. Persons with the TABP get involved in various functions; they can get a lot done, and have the potential to really move ahead in the world. However, there is a high price to pay for the stress inducing behavior that characterizes TABP. Certain components of such a personality can inhibit happiness and therefore, threaten health. For example, the goals that Type A folks set are often poorly defined and therefore hard to achieve -a perfect recipe for misery.

The hostility trait of TABP is characterized by a tendency to react to unpleasant situations with responses that reflect anger, frustration, irritation, and disgust. A tendency to be overly critical and demanding, even contemptuous of imperfection, in the self and others, and a general feeling of discontent typify people with TABP. Persons with TABP are motivated by external factors such as material reward and recognition rather than by inner/intrinsic motivators. They experience a constant sense of opposition, wariness, and apprehension - they are always ready for battle. This constant, and very exhausting, presence of negative emotions depletes reserves of energy, wards off contentment and happiness and disrupts personal equilibrium.

Type A behavior pattern has been linked to a number of health problems. Although the literature is somewhat inconsistent because of problems with the conceptualization and definition of Type A behavior, studies have shown that Type A people run higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other stress-related evils such as frequent colds, anxiety disorders, burnout, and depression. The risks seem to be reduced with intervention aimed at reducing Type A behavior. Indeed, those with pronounced Type A characteristics would be happier and healthier if they were to file down the jagged edges of their personality. By learning how to control the negative behavior patterns while preserving their drive, Type A people can be successful without sacrificing their emotional and physical well-being.

This test describes people on the opposite side of Type A personality characteristics as Type C. Although difficult to define, Type C people are generally stress-avoiders who know how to take things easy. Two types of people fit this very unperturbed and laid-back profile: the spiritually minded folks that adopt an "everybody must win" attitude to life, and those that have a more flaccid and blasé "don't care much about anything" attitude. Although it's good to be cool and relaxed, type C people simply don't get much done. In any case, all persons with Type C personality characteristics can benefit from a more ardent approach to reaching their goals. Their very laid-back way of life may put them at risk of missing out on opportunities.

In the mid-range are Type B people who draw characteristics from both Type A and Type C personalities. They are of a flexible nature. Type B people are achievement oriented and can psych themselves up for competition; however, being "nothing but the best" isn't something they cling to unremittingly (as do Type A's). With well-developed self-monitoring skills, Type B people can distance themselves from work to unwind. They are also receptive and sensitive to different people and situations; able to adjust their way depending on the circumstances at hand. Taking things in moderation; Type B people can get a lot done and have the potential to really move ahead in the world.

Note: To date, the Type B category definition has been very broad, lumping together people who are a true opposite of Type A with those who have achieved a certain balance between the two extremes (our Type C and B personalities respectively). We have expanded the spectrum to include Types A and C on the extremes and Type B in the middle.