A temperament characterized by excessive drive, competitiveness, a sense of time urgency, impatience, unrealistic ambition, and need for control. Believed to be associated with a high incidence of coronary artery disease.
A predisposition to some diseases, e.g., coronary heart disease.
Type A personality (and/or Type A emotional behavior) is described as competitive, ambitious, driven, impatient, workaholic, and always rushed. Type As put big demands on themselves to accomplish more and more in less and less time. They have little time for or interest in hobbies or leisure pursuits and have few intimate friends. The key problem with Type A behavior is stress. Type As put themselves under constant pressure, and their bodies react by producing extra amounts of stress hormones, which can be harmful.