The notion that personalities can be grouped based on the characteristics into certain types have been widely accepted and unquestioned for several decades. Furthermore, it was suggested that based on these types, some personalities can have health related risks higher than other groups. However, the newest research that was recently published casts a serious doubt on these statements and, additionally, finds flaws in the studies that have been done in the past. These doubts are result of implementation of new research methods making it easier to confirm certain hypotheses.
Key Takeaways:
- The personality types A, B, and C associated with popular psychology emerged in the 1980s from personality studies known as the Five-Factor Model.
- Despite the prevalence of these personality types, there is growing evidence that the studies and observations did not hold up to standard scientific scrutiny.
- The retraction of these types of personalities and their correlation with health has taken a long time due to the rigor of scientific publishing and has caused quite a shake up.
“Empirical support for the existence of these personality types came from two types of investigations. In observational studies, researchers tested individuals with standard questionnaire measures and then waited to see if they developed heart disease and/or cancer, leading to higher rates of mortality.”
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