Type B Personality

A. Type B Personality Extrinsic Characteristics (Stress or Fear Related)
Type B personality trait’s main extrinsic characteristic is Honesty. This trait combines trust and fairness that yields great pleasures but is challenging to manage.
But Honesty is not exactly what you may think. It is not the actual truth of a statement or action. It is the belief in its truth. This is far more elusive and difficult to assess.
This is where “actions speak louder than words” comes into play. It’s one of many management tools used to gauge honesty.
1. Honesty. Everyone understands this to mean to tell the truth. What people often overlook is that this expression involves the interrelationship between people.
Take the example of someone who finds a diamond ring in the street, picks it up, and takes it to the police station. There is no interrelationship or bond between people in that action. Returning the ring would describe a noble act, but it is not what is included in the honesty trait because there is no interrelationship between people.
A better example would be two girls remaining friends during good and bad times. One friend announces that she is engaged. But the other friend saw her fiancé making out with someone else. About Type B Personality Traits, honesty would require that she tell her friend what she saw (trust), withhold any judgment (fairness), and then stand beside her for comfort. That means telling the truth is not the only issue in honesty.
Another example would be where one person asks another to hold an heirloom ring while they leave the state on a business trip. The person accepts the task. A few days later, that person loses the ring. They end up finding another that looks exactly like the one lost. It may be the same ring. When the owner returns, the person holding the ring tells the owner what happened.
Both of these examples have interrelationships and elements of trust and fairness.
There are many ways to assess if someone is honest. But beware. You may be wrong, mainly when done in haste. Here are some examples:
a. Does the falsity of what is said determine whether something is honest? No, not entirely. This is the biggest mistake people make. A person can say something false but still be honest. This point is so vital that it is worth repeating:
— A person can say something false but still be honest.
Honesty deals with what someone believes to be accurate and not what the facts prove. Facts may play a part, but they do not create the beliefs. That is on you. A friend may hear something from another and believe it to be true. If they repeat the information, they can still be honest even when false. You must ask about the source of information.
How often have you concluded that someone was dishonest because the facts did not back them up? That would mean that during the middle ages, the vast majority of the people were dishonest because they thought the earth was the center of the Universe. That would be in error. Those people were not dishonest; they were only misinformed.
b. Does honesty include saying something nice to manipulate someone? Nope. But it is important to determine dishonest intent.
c. Is showing up late and missing deadlines dishonest? This is evidence of dishonesty but does not define it. To connect the action, one must ask, “Why are you always late?” You might discover that your parties and deadlines are intentionally set earlier than intended.
d. Is the phrase Action Speak Louder than Words important in determining honesty? This is the gold standard in determining honesty and its flip-side dishonesty.
Think of a playground teeter-totter. The statements sit on one end, and the actions sit on the other. When the actions do not support the statements, the teeter-totter tips and broadcasts the mismatch.
But there is a downside. Most people puff the statements, and applying a blanket rule could result in a loss of friendships.
The B Types have wisely learned how to manage any mismatch by forgiving minor discrepancies and ignoring those that are not important.
2. Control Power. All personality types use power and control to accomplish a result. But B-types use and enjoy different aspects. For example, most Type B personalities receive more satisfaction out of the interrelations (aka the “chase”) rather than from acquiring something (aka the “win”). The win is important, but mainly to gain more chases.
A racehorse runs down the track, determined to beat the other horses. The horse does not realize when they cross the finish line, so the win is unimportant. The thrill is beating the brown and white filly next to her.
In this sense, the Type B person can be highly competitive while enjoying the interactions. You can spot the B-Type person by observing their enthusiasm and enjoyment before the win.
a. Rapport Power. Type B Personalities are usually exceptional salespersons. The power comes from a desire to influence the buyers to “like them” instead of selling a product. Creating this type of bond encourages repeat business.
And this is much more profitable to the company than a single sale. Hence, companies often seek out salespeople having the B-type trait.
A person may initially acquire insurance based on the price, but they renew with the company because of a friendship with the insurance agent. If an insurance company requires its agents to take a personality test, you now know why. They are looking for the B-Types in your answers.
b. Sexual power. Type B salespeople use sexual prowess in almost every initial meeting. It is used to keep the buyer from running away. It is the old “foot-in-the-door” maneuver. A friendship cannot begin without getting a chance to give your name. Training seminars teach that the average salesperson has less than ten seconds to establish an initial interest.
c. Communication power should be renamed “Type B” power. They observe nuances that are invisible to most people. The eye contact, muscle tension, a glance, arm position, how far the lips are parted, and a list of other manifestations. They observe all of these features and tailor their words and content to play into or sway the direction of the conversation.
A memorized script would be spotted in a few seconds, so the salesperson must be flexible with the responses. Flexibility is challenging for most people, but it’s child’s play for Type B personalities. This is one of the reasons they are successful attorneys. They know how to ask questions to nudge witnesses in a certain direction.
3. Easy Going. As used here, easygoing means not easily stressed. Some say it means laid back. That’s misleading. It is more accurate to say that they have mastered managing stress during conversations. These skills require training, experience, and intelligence.
High energy and easygoing are not inconsistent expressions.
The highest energy person known in the entertainment world was Robin Williams. Yet he was also easygoing. Rather than getting stressed when a restaurant had no available seating, he would insist on waiting his turn like everyone else. Sometimes he would grab a white napkin and roam around the restaurant, taking orders to the delight of the patrons and owners.
4. Enthusiasm. Type B personalities are highly enthusiastic about activities that involve other people. Many words define enthusiasm, and each one provides a slightly different flavor. Can you imagine a musician without passion, a leader without charisma, or an artist without creativity? This is why most musicians, leaders, and artists are B-types.
When invited to a party, a Type B person enjoys meeting new people. Many strive to become the “life of the party,” resulting in invitations to an expanding list of more parties. To avoid the impression that B-types are only party animals, look a little deeper and consider how many business contacts are made at a party.
Garth Brooks went to Nashville to be discovered. He was among thousands of talented artists trying to make their mark. He lasted one day before returning home. But he bumped into a record producer while performing at a party. He became one of the most prominent money-making artists of all time. This is the value of a chance meeting.
This example illustrates why enthusiasm has been classified as an extrinsic trait. There is often a little stress that tags along.
5. Humor. Humor from others is used to reduce stress in all personality types. But what about the personality type that produces comedy?
When viewed in that direction, Type B individuals dominate the area. Every school, business, geographic region, etc., has people who enjoy making other people laugh.
Will Rogers was a Cherokee Indian from Oklahoma. He was an actor, vaudeville performer, cowboy, newspaper columnist, politician, and the most admired and quoted humorist in America. In 1928, he ran for president on the “Anti-Bunk” party. He pledged that, if elected, he would resign the next day. Herbert Hoover won the election, and this Oklahoma man resigned the next day. This was during tough times when the nation needed some humor. He is discussed in one of the inspiring stories of Oklahoma.
6. Spontaneous. This is the inclination to do things without premeditation in an open, natural, or uninhibited manner. People living in a regimented, safe bubble are repulsed by and enticed by such actions. The repulsion occurs when the spontaneous event is happening and is fed by the terror of not knowing what may come next. The enticement comes from the feeling of exhilaration after the event is over.
The flat part of a roller coaster is not as enjoyable as the free-fall drop, as evidenced by photos of riders’ faces at the two locations.
Life would be dull without a generous sprinkling of B-types throughout the populous.
B. Type B Personality Intrinsic Characteristics (Joy Related)
Friends, friends, and more friends are the main Intrinsic Trait. Most view money, power, and fame as good qualities. But this personality finds them unimportant if they cannot be shared with someone.
Everyone knows someone who has a Type B Personality. Look around where people gather. It is usually the person who stands out, clearly enjoys being the center of social circles, and is talkative. If you want to be like them, you likely have the same type B traits.
What is the first step in finding a friend? Is it eye contact, a smile, a question, or something else?
The answer is: It is something else. To discover this gem and many others, click the Read More link below.
1. Having Friends. Humans are social animals. Interactions are necessary to supply meaning to life.
- Friends teach friends.
- Friends promote friends.
- Friends help friends.
- Friends cure loneliness.
- Friends often form strong romantic bonds.
In most animal species, the social animal outlives the isolated animal. In humans at age 50, married people live longer than singles: 70% longer in France, 30% longer in Belgium, and 40% longer in the Netherlands. Your health may be connected to finding and nourishing friendships.
How do you find friends? This question depends on many factors, including the traditions and norms of the region, the ages, the reason for finding friends, etc. As such, there is no golden rule. However, here are a few guidelines.
a. You must first address any applicable fears. This is generally covered in the What are Your Fears section. The main fear relating to finding friends is rejection.
Physical impairments can also play a role in some people, such as stuttering, tongue-tied, etc. That raises the fear of embarrassment. This is addressed in the section on Public Speaking Fears.
If these fears are not sufficiently calmed, you may want to start on a secure social media site. But person-to-person contact is far better for making friends.
Next, you need to go where people are. Social media platforms provide an alternative. But studies have shown that long-term friendships are established by person-to-person contacts. That means losing friends found on social media is to be expected and should not be taken as a personal rejection.
b. The next move is to make eye contact. If they do not see you, it reduces your chances of making a connection. Eye contact less than a half-second does not count. The one-second rule means direct eye-to-eye contact lasting at least one second.
c. Next is a friendly response. This could be a simple smile, a nod, or many other manifestations.
d. The next steps depend on the reasons for the initial contact. There are too many different and appropriate actions depending on the reasons and circumstances.
Hopefully, this will blossom into a true friendship.
2. Compassion. Compassion is sympathy for the suffering of others. This is an interrelationship issue and a foremost trait in Type B personalities. The number one reason people go into medicine is not for the money. It is because of compassion.
Dr. Jonas Salk wanted to help people and chose to work in the laboratory, a low-paying, an underappreciated arm of medicine. The polio vaccine was discovered because of compassion.
Edward Jenner, in 1796 sought to reduce smallpox – the world’s deadliest disease. He discovered that “variolae vaccinae” in cows gave milk farmers immunity. Dr. Jenner intentionally infected people with cowpox and eliminated smallpox in humans. The word vaccine came from variolae vaccinae.
All religious beliefs have compassion as a primary tenant.
3. Dreamer. The dictionary defines a dreamer as one who lives in a world of imagination. This defines all amusement parks—throw in romance novels, and the B-type personality blossoms.
4. Patience. This is the capacity to tolerate delay without confronting stress. This is another trait that calms. It does not mean accepting laziness or apathy. Those are issues of competence and not patience.
5. Roamer. This is taking different routes or going to an unknown destination. Some people take the fastest or shortest way every time. They seek to go from point A to point B in the quickest time.
The roamer says, “I will go this way and see what I see.” Or, they may say, “Why do I have to go to point B?”
This difficulty faces almost everyone who retires. And it is not easy to unlearn. Therefore, try practicing being a roamer a few years before retiring. To spice it up, combine roaming with a bit of spontaneity.
C. How to Appeal to a Type B Person.
This personality type wears their emotions on their sleeves. As such, it is not difficult to find what appeals to them.
Since they enjoy having people around them, organize a picture-taking event with lots of people. The cherry on top would have a celebrity drop by. They will put that picture on their wall and admire it every day. AND your name will be associated with the picture.
Special gift or Award. The object of the gift or award is to:
- recognize their accomplishments;
- be unexpected; and
- is unique.
Here are a couple of hidden gems. Find out the mayor of the small town where your friend grew up. Prepare a nice certificate entitled “In Recognition of the Person of the Year from (name of Town and state)” signed by the Mayor. Experience has shown that all small-town Mayors will sign the certificate. Present your friend with the certificate at a party or event.
The following would go well at a retirement party. Obtain a nice photo of the head of the retiree and blow it up to life-size. Glue the life-size head to a flat stick and give one to everyone at the party without the retiree knowing. Have the president or higher manager congratulate the retiree but announce that they are having a problem finding a replacement. At that moment, everyone attending the party pulls the life-size photo up to their faces, so it looks like a sea of identical retiring persons in the room.
Be a Good Listener. A good listener is high on Type B’s must-have list. The words, “Wow, that’s interesting. Tell me more,” are irresistible.
Praise of any kind is appreciated. Awards that acknowledge the person rather than the accomplishments are preferred. A “best-liked person” plaque is better than a more expensive pen set or gold watch.
If you invite the Type B person to take their picture with a celebrity, they will often modestly decline, saying, “It’s not necessary,” or “I don’t want to bother them.” They mean the exact opposite. They love the association with a famous person and will display the picture in their office and on the home mantle.
D. Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities.
To find a weakness find their strengths—the greater the power, the greater the potential weakness.
The greatest strength of this personality trait has friends. The greatest weakness would be the fear of losing friends or being disliked.
They will do almost anything to try and please others, exposing a central vulnerable, particularly in business matters.
1. Perception of Being Disliked. By far, the greatest weakness of Type B personality is not being able to please everyone. In business meetings and dealings, it is often a ploy to bait the other into thinking you are unhappy. Type B people are inclined to give up something to get others to like them. There is a clue that reveals a bait tactic. After the person declares their unhappiness, they stop talking. They are waiting for the B-type person to concede something. If you are that person, there is a solution. You get them to talk by asking, “Why are you unhappy?” Or you can try the adult version of the “quiet game.” All management courses on negotiation tactics list silence as the strongest tool. Not simply a tool, but the strongest tool.
2. Procrastination. Procrastination is difficulty staying on task or finishing a job before moving on to something more interesting. It is not the same as delaying or postponing a decision because of the need for more information. If this problem becomes pervasive, some corrective action should be taken.
A computer search for help with procrastination reveals hundreds of apps. Many of which are free. If procrastination becomes too much of a burden, delegating the tasks to someone is a solution. Delegating is challenging to master but essential if the tasks are not completed. This is a difficult tool for the B-Types but an easy one for the A-Types.
3. Talkative. One of the biggest reasons B-types are the life-of-the-party is that they are talkers. In their mind, a quiet party is a boring party. However, in a business transaction, fun is not the objective. The person who talks the most usually concedes the most. This is why a Type B person should have someone assist them in business negotiations, such as an A, C, or D-Type person.
A talent scout was negotiating with a talented female singer in a private booth at a restaurant over a glass of wine. The talent scout asked why she came to their agency. She replied, “Because you are the best agency in the business. My dream is to concentrate on hip hop music genre.”
There are several problems with this scenario. First, the person who is in the weaker position should never negotiate in a relaxed atmosphere over a glass of alcohol. Second, the singer needed to listen more and talk less. In this case, there was no business reason to inform the talent scout that she wanted to concentrate on hip-hop music. It turned out that there was a low demand for hip-hop singers at the time, so the talent scout chose not to accept the client.
Almost all lawyers tell their witnesses they should not volunteer information during a deposition. This is because words convey information, and information is power. By giving the other side information, they can choose to use or not to use that information. But, if you do not provide them with information, you take away their power not to use it.
4. Loneliness. This is defined, by those who study this condition, as feeling lonely more than once per week. Solitary confinement must be particularly difficult on a B-type.
A study of the blood cells taken from individuals diagnosed as lonely showed that they were in a state of high alert, similar to those blood cells fighting bacterial infections. This makes loneliness particularly detrimental to the health of Type B people. It also suggests that they may be drawn to drug use based on physical needs and psychological influences.
5. Criticism is a major problem with all personality types, but it is particularly hurtful to Type B personalities. A major conflict exists with social media. It is a source of praise and a basis for criticism.
When criticism appears, one solution is to ignore it. Another is to look for hidden benefits. In most instances, it is best not to respond if you are inclined to respond; waiting sufficient time for the emotions to subside before answering is essential.