A widely supported personality theory holds that there are two distinct patterns of behavior that all people fall into, Type A and Type B.
Type A people aren’t necessarily smarter than others, but they’re very intense, fast-moving, and sometimes loud.
Even if they’re not loud in voice, their actions tend to “speak” loudly.
When we consider our childhood friends from Winnie-the-Pooh, a Type A person is definitely more of a Rabbit than a Winnie. On the other hand, Winnie is more of a Type B.
Type B individuals are normally quite relaxed, peaceful, and slow-moving, letting things happen instead of making them happen like their Type A counterparts do.
Some theorists have recently entertained the idea that there are two more personality styles, Type C *thoughtful, critical, detail-oriented and cautious introverts* and Type D *change-resistant followers who avoid taking responsibility and don’t show a lot of emotion*.
Dating a Type A personality
Even though they may not have as many friends as the easygoing Type B, Type A personalities are often very popular within the dating scene.
One reason for this may be that they’re simply more noticeable. They often walk quickly, making bold eye contact with others, and they also have a knack for dressing practically and looking put-together at the same time.
You won’t catch a Type A woman in a long, flowing skirt that they could trip over, and neither a male nor female of this type would be caught dead wearing a shirt with a large stain. People of this type tend to be physically fit, too, which only raises their attractiveness level.
Although you may find yourself attracted to one of these dynamic individuals almost immediately, there are some issues you’re going to be faced with when dating them, mainly related to their sometimes hot-headed, hard-driving behavior. [Read: 50 relationship questions to test your relationship compatibility instantly!]
7 things to be aware of when you date someone with a Type A personality
If you happen to be a fellow Type A, their actions may not be difficult for you to understand, but if not, they may completely baffle you at times.
If you’re having trouble dealing with a partner whom you suspect may be Type A, or just want to learn more about these passionate creatures for future reference, keep reading below for more information on the motivations and preferences of society’s biggest go-getters. [Read: Do opposites actually attract or do they push each other away?]
#1 They’re very time-conscious. You’ll rarely find a Type A person not wearing a watch, and if they’re not, they’ll likely be checking the time on their phone frequently. To Type A people, time is of the utmost importance, whether they’re at work or at play.
When a Type A date says they’ll arrive somewhere at 4 pm, you won’t catch them strolling in at 4:01 or later. Naturally, they’ll expect you to be on time, too. Being frequently late for dates with your Type A is one way to get dumped pretty quickly, or at least receive numerous scoldings.
#2 They may come off as aggressive in conversation. Especially if they’re passionate when it comes to what they’re talking about, a Type A personality may appear as if they’re arguing with you, when they’re actually just sharing their opinions. [Read: 30 alpha male characteristics that make a person a real alpha]
Type As also have a tendency to interrupt others, and this may be especially evident during the first few dates with one of these people, as we tend to revert to faulty behaviour when we’re nervous. They usually don’t interrupt because they think what you have to say is unimportant – they’re just in such a rush to get all their ideas out, they neglect to remember that a conversation should be a two-way exchange!
Phrases such as, “Could I finish?” or “Do you mind if I cut in?” will come in handy here. Alternatively, you could just interrupt them when you want to say something. Since they enjoy a quick back-and-forth exchange, most probably won’t mind!
#3 They’re very career-focused. As much as they may love and value the person they’re dating, for Type As, their career comes first. This is especially true if they’re in high-powered corporate careers, which they often find themselves in due to their drive and determination.
However, Type As are not only found within the corporate world. Some choose to run their own businesses, due to the fact that their brains are full of wonderful ideas that they want to put into motion *plus, they hate being told what to do by others*.
If you’re dating someone who is a Type A, you’re just going to have to accept that they may spend long hours at the office, even on the weekends, and may not always be available to chat. [Read: Love or career? – The right way to make the perfect choice for you]
#4 They want to accomplish everything quickly and correctly. At home, as well as on the job, Type A individuals want to do everything “right,” and they want to get it done as fast as possible. Some may have systematic ways of organizing things or accomplishing tasks *color-coded closets, anyone?* that may seem ridiculous to you, but humor them as much as you can – being able to control their environment makes them feel secure and happy.
Another possibly annoying trait stemming from their need to be correct is that they tend to anticipate what could go wrong in any situation.
Try to listen politely to their concerns without laughing or dismissing them outright. After all, if one of their prophecies of doom ends up occurring, you can bet they’ll have some sort of contingency plan drawn up to pull you out of the mess! [Read: 10 signs your negative thinking is turning into a bad obsession!]
#5 They hate waiting. Since they are so driven to be productive at every moment, Type As hate waiting for other people *or even things!* that aren’t moving fast enough.
Long line-ups, delays on the road due to construction, and lengthy wait times at restaurants tend to annoy them. Sometimes, you can’t do anything about these minor annoyances, but these Type A pet peeves are just something to keep in mind when you’re planning what you’ll do on your next date, as well as deciding on the time of day you’ll do it at.
#6 They find it hard to relax. Relaxing generally isn’t the Type A’s favorite activity, and being relaxed definitely isn’t their natural state. As well as walking at a brisk pace, many tend to gulp their food and drink down quickly, even when enjoying a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant.
It’s not that they don’t appreciate etiquette – they are just so used to getting one thing done and moving onto the next thing that they forget to ever break this pattern. When they happen to be going a mile a minute during an activity, don’t feel the need to keep up with their breakneck pace.
If they notice that you’ve adopted a more moderate pace, they may slow down to match you, allowing both of you to enjoy yourselves a bit more.
People of other types often enjoy a good nap, but due to their difficulty relaxing, Type As often struggle with sleeping for even a few hours at night. Once their heads hit the pillow, thoughts about work, school, or hobbies may swirl through their minds, preventing them from getting much shut-eye. When you’re sleeping in the same bed, don’t be surprised if you glance at them in the middle of the night and their eyes are wide open, or you wake up at noon on a Saturday and find that their side of the bed looks as if it’s been abandoned hours before.
If you want to spend all day snoozing in the sack and watching Netflix, you shouldn’t feel guilty for doing so – just don’t expect your high-powered Type A honey to be there with you!
#7 They often enjoy physical activity. Hiking up the tallest peak in the city? Going for a 12-mile run? Heaven forbid, skydiving? Type A people generally enjoy exercise and other physical activities, sometimes even risky ones, if they’re in good shape and aren’t suffering from a medical condition that limits their physical mobility.
Often, they get along best with others who take pleasure in athletic pursuits and can keep up to them, but if that’s not you, that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship is doomed. If you become their biggest cheerleader, and wait at the finish with their favorite refreshments, they’ll love you forever! [Read: The top 50 date ideas to wow your date every single time!]
Hopefully, all the information above has given you some insight into the sometimes-confusing enigma that is the Type A person. If you think you can handle their incredible zest for life, then by all means, hang on and enjoy the ride!
However, if you’ve been reading all of this with horror, chances are, these extremely goal-oriented drivers aren’t the ideal matches for you.
There’s nothing wrong with that – feel free to leave the skydiving to others, and enjoy a night out with a sociable Type B, talk books with a Type C, or snuggle on the couch with a Type D instead!
