The Difference Between Type A & Type B Personalities, According To Experts

You've probably heard someone describe themselves as "type A," but what does that really mean? And how does this personality type differ from type Bs?

The term "type A," or type A behavior pattern (TABP), refers to a personality and behavior pattern with high degrees of achievement, impatience, ambition, and competition. According to doctor of clinical psychology Perpetua Neo, DClinPsy, these people tend to be go-getters with lots of goals, with a tendency to overbook and overstretch themselves.

"They have extremely high standards, [and] they can be competitive with other people and themselves," Neo says, adding that type A people tend to also be rational and organized. "And because of their incredibly high standards, nothing's ever good enough—the goal posts are always moving for type A's," she adds.

Blaylock-Solar notes that type A folks are ambitious, independent, and can be very passionate when committed to a cause. They're also good at multitasking, organizing, managing projects, and taking the lead in general, she adds.

Type A people can be inspiring and motivating forces to the people around them because they're so motivated themselves—and they're not afraid to push the envelope in the name of getting something done.

Of course, whether you consider these qualities a strength or a weakness is a matter of perspective. Some may find type A people aggressive, overly competitive, and impatient, while others may find them to be hard workers, driven, and reliable.

Type B people are more flexible, fun-loving, and friendly, relative to their type A counterparts. As Blaylock-Solar explains, "They can be seen as pretty charismatic and just very outgoing and energetic. They, too, can do well—but there's just a bit more flexibility with type B's."

And as Neo adds, consider your type B's the peaceful Zen people who don't sweat the small stuff—or even the big stuff. "They are not quick to anger and give people a warm and fuzzy feeling, so people like being around them—they're a bit of an energetic retreat from the world," she says.

If type A people are competitive, impatient, and achievement-oriented, type B people are the opposite, showing high degrees of relationship orientation, a generally relaxed attitude, and a go-with-the-flow attitude.

Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and according to Blaylock-Solar, type B's thrive when they can be engaged with other people, collaborating, and helping to keep the peace. Their strength is in their even temper, their patience, and their ability to adapt to different situations.

"I would say a big strength is that they're great relationship builders," she says, adding that they're also creative and can come up with great ideas.

However, depending on who you ask, some might say certain type B traits can be weaknesses. While they are laid back and low stress, they can procrastinate, place others' needs before their own, and may even come off as lazy.

Type A behavior pattern (TABP) was first coined in the 1950s by two cardiologists, Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman, who actually argued that TABP was a risk factor1 for coronary heart disease. Since then, the connection between the two has been further studied and somewhat debunked.

Namely, according to the American Psychological Association's definition of TABP, "Epidemiological studies have failed to confirm that connection, but evidence does suggest that one Type A feature in particular—hostility—does contribute to the pathogenesis of heart disease."

In additional research on type A versus type B personalities published in 2019, researchers wanted to understand how these personality differences impacted academic performance. They found that both personalities had strengths and weaknesses that impacted performance, such as type A's who are hardworking but can be hostile, and type B's, who are patient but tend to procrastinate.

Type A and type B personalities might seem entirely different, and in some respects, they are. But according to Neo, what's important to remember is that most people will be a combination of these types, and it's ultimately about understanding your own unique blend and how you can harness the different parts of yourself based on any given situation.