In the late 50’s a study was conducted by Dr. Friedman and Dr. Rosenman that classified the population into two separate groups by personality traits. One of the types created is commonly known as the ‘Type B’ personality. In the separate classification system the Type B was less likely to succumb to stress related illnesses. This assumption stemmed from the relaxed, calm, stress free attitude of the Type B patients.
A look into any group of friends or co-workers will show a Type B personality. They are usually the ones that act more like mediators with situations that arise. They are the happy go lucky types that, even with a pile of things to do on their desk, and a deadline to meet, they seem to be unaffected by it. In essence they are the total opposite of a Type A. They bring balance to the driven, stressed, overworked world.
To get a better feel for a Type B you will need to dive a little deeper into the traditional traits of the personality group.
Due to the calm, relaxed nature of a Type B, they lack a real sense of urgency. They do not stress out over time constraints or push to meet deadlines. That can make them seem like a procrastinator at times, which can cause conflict with Type A who sees them as lazy.
In contrast, it is not that they are in fact lazy, it’s just that they refuse to stress out and go into overdrive mode. If a task cannot get done today, that is alright by them. Non-competitive by nature, they are not striving to be the top dog of any situation. They would rather be in a social setting or in a place where they can express their inner artist. Any setting that is not hostile or destructive is where they want to be.
Outside influence is a key factor to the Type B. They are easily influenced by the environment they are in. During childhood years the morals and standards imposed by the parents will stay instilled. Culture also plays a big part in the Type B personality. If they are surrounded by a group of like minded people, they will mold into the culture surrounding them. Their calm, easy going nature helps them to make and keep friends so they traditionally have a large social network.
