Distress-Resistant Personality Pattern

The Type B Pattern

Absence of Time Urgency they feel sufficiently secure not to feel compelled to approach every task from the point of view of deadline they delegate they take time to appreciate themselves as well as those they care about. Absence of Free-floating Hostility they are able to overlook small mistakes by others, their family life is marked by less tension and displays of AIAI they are able to practice empathy and seldom sermonize to their spouses or children and seldom resort to corporal punishment.

 A Sense of Self-Esteem having usually received unconditional love and affection, grow up believing they are worthwhile human beings irrespective of their achievements as they give and receive love and affection from those close to them, their self-esteem is further enhanced. Type Bs as Leaders It is a myth that one must be Type A to succeed. Type As who make it to the top generally do so despite many of their Type A qualities, not because of them.

Learned Optimism
Learned optimism is a pattern of thinking in which good events are explained by factors that are internal, permanent, and pervasive, while bad events are explained by factors that are external, temporary, and limited in scope. Optimistic thinking as a general tendency influences chances of distress.

Hardiness
Hardiness is a personality style showing a liking of challenge, a strong sense of commitment, and a strong sense of control.
Characteristics of Hardiness:
Three Cs : Challenge, Commitment and Control

Such people: 1. work hard because they enjoy it, rather than because they feel compelled or driven; 2. React optimistically and take positive action; 3. Experience events as stressful, but also as: interesting, important, influenceable, of potential value for personal growth. People high in challenge: consider it natural for things to change; anticipate change as a useful stimulus for creativity, thrive under conditions of challenge, adversity and difficulty, turn change and difficulty into opportunity and challenge

People high in commitment: find it easy to be contented in whatever they are doing, do what they love and love what they do, rarely are at a loss for things to do, make a maximum effort, and do so zestfully. People high in control: believe they can influence events and their reactions to events, reflect on how to turn difficult situations into opportunities, have a strong sense of initiative and are slow to give up on a challenge. Effects of Hardiness: The higher the happiness; the lower the
depression; the higher the self-esteem; the higher the sense of energy and vitality; the higher the optimism; the more positive the self-reported health; the higher the sense of meaning and direction

Sense of Coherence
Three components that make up the sense of coherence: 1. Comprehensibility the extent to which one perceives the external stimuli as making sense 2. Manageability the degree to which one perceives resources are available within oneself or the immediate surrounding to meet the demands posed by the stimuli. 3. Meaningfulness the extent to which one feels lifes demands are worthy of commitment and engagement and that challenges are welcomed rather than dreaded because they are worthwhile investing energy into.

The Survivor Personality

People with survivor personality are those who have survived a major crisis or challenge; surmounted the crisis through personal effort; emerged from the experience with previously unknown strengths and abilities; and afterwards find value in the experience. - Siebert Patterns of survivors: Biphasic Traits they display counterbalanced, seemingly paradoxical traits: playful and serious; trusting and cautious; intuitive and logical; impulsive and stable; gentle and strong; easygoing and strongwilled; childlike and mature.

Patterns of survivors (Contd): Serendipity - a knack for responding with insight and wisdom under the pressure of an accident or other misfortune. Synergy making things go well for themselves and others. Their inner force takes them in directions that work out, even under enormous pressure and hardship. Self-Actualization they enjoy taking reasonable risks. Creativity - they are not quick to label something good or bad, right or wrong. They accept others fallibilities.

Patterns of survivors (Contd): Intuition they can sense subtle, even subliminal cues and clues. Sensitive to feelings and nuances and consider them valuable sources of information. Humour The survivor personality is able to laugh at what has happened and to find something amusing even in the midst of difficult events. Competence under pressure trying circumstances are transformed into positive challenges because the person can sit back and let things run themselves.

The Type C Pattern

The Type C pattern is peak performance under pressure. This draws some of the best attributes from the Type A and Type B patterns and adds new elements to form a cluster of ingredients for meeting challenge head-on with success and vitality. Here everything seems to flow naturally at a very high level of performance Transcendent you go beyond your usual level to new heights of personal performance Effortless your performance flows easily, without special effort or struggle Positive you are optimistic and confident, thoroughly enjoying what you are doing. Spontaneous thought and action are naturally united Focused your concentration is complete Vital you feel unusually alive and energetic