Are You Type A or Type B? Understanding Your Personality for ADHD Success

​Harold Robert Meyer | The ADD Resource Center  08/03/2025
Listen to understand, rather than to reply.

Executive Summary

Understanding your personality type—whether you lean toward Type A (competitive, driven, time-sensitive) or Type B (relaxed, creative, adaptable)—can transform how you manage ADHD symptoms and navigate daily challenges. This comprehensive guide provides a self-assessment tool, explores the genetic and environmental factors shaping personality, and offers career guidance tailored to your type. You’ll discover practical strategies to leverage your natural strengths while addressing potential weaknesses, ultimately creating a more balanced and successful approach to life with ADHD.

Why This Matters

Your personality type significantly influences how you experience and manage ADHD symptoms. Type A individuals with ADHD may struggle with heightened stress and impatience, while Type B personalities might face challenges with time management and perceived lack of ambition. Recognizing your natural tendencies allows you to develop personalized coping strategies, choose suitable career paths, and build environments that support your success. This understanding becomes even more crucial for individuals with ADHD, as it helps you work with your brain’s unique wiring rather than against it.

Key Findings

• Personality types are partially inherited: Research shows 30-60% of personality traits have genetic components, influenced by both genes and life experiences
• Type A and ADHD can amplify stress: The combination of ADHD’s executive function challenges with Type A’s time pressure can increase burnout risk
• Type B traits may mask ADHD symptoms: Relaxed, creative tendencies might delay ADHD diagnosis, particularly in adults
• Career alignment improves outcomes: Matching your personality type with appropriate work environments enhances performance and reduces stress
• Most people exhibit mixed traits: Understanding your dominant tendencies helps optimize strategies rather than forcing rigid categorization

Understanding Type A vs Type B Personalities

Type A Characteristics

Type A personalities are characterized by their competitive nature, high drive, and constant sense of urgency. If you’re Type A, you likely feel energized by deadlines, thrive in fast-paced environments, and naturally gravitate toward leadership roles. You may find yourself multitasking frequently, feeling impatient during delays, and maintaining high standards for yourself and others.

For individuals with ADHD, Type A traits can be both blessing and challenge. Your natural drive may help you push through executive function difficulties, but the combination of ADHD’s time blindness with Type A’s time pressure can create overwhelming stress.

Type B Characteristics

Type B personalities embody a more relaxed, patient approach to life. You likely prioritize creativity over competition, adapt well to changing circumstances, and feel comfortable working at your own pace. You may excel at collaborative projects, handle stress more effectively, and maintain better work-life balance than your Type A counterparts.

When ADHD intersects with Type B traits, you might find your natural flexibility helpful for managing unexpected symptoms, but you may also struggle with others’ perceptions of your productivity or time management.

Self-Assessment: Discovering Your Type

Quick Personality Screen

(Not peer reviewed and not medical advice.)

Consider these questions and note your instinctive responses:

Time and Urgency

• Do you feel frustrated waiting in lines or stuck in traffic?
• Do you frequently check the time and worry about being late?
• Do you eat quickly or feel rushed during meals?

Competition and Achievement

• Do you turn everyday activities into competitions?
• Do you feel driven to be the best at what you do?
• Do you measure success primarily through accomplishments?

Work Style and Stress

• Do you prefer multitasking over focusing on single tasks?
• Do you feel uncomfortable during periods of inactivity?
• Do you frequently feel “on edge” or stressed?

Mostly “yes” responses: You likely lean Type A Mostly “no” responses: You likely lean Type B Mixed responses: You may have balanced traits

Professional Assessment Options

While self-assessment provides valuable insights, consider consulting with professionals familiar with both personality types and ADHD for comprehensive evaluation. Harold Meyer and the ADD Resource Center offer specialized assessments that consider how personality intersects with ADHD symptoms.

Careers: Best and Worst Jobs for Each Type

Type A-leaning roles:

• High-pressure, goal-driven jobs: Event coordinator, advertising manager, operations manager, executive, financial manager, lawyer, analyst, project manager, surgeon, entrepreneur, inventory specialist, or market researcher.

Type B-leaning roles:

• Creative or service-focused jobs: Graphic designer, counselor/therapist, teacher, freelance writer, yoga instructor, hospitality, event planning (in supportive roles), or roles requiring patience and flexibility.

Why?

• Type A thrives where fast decision-making, tight deadlines, organization, and leadership are valued.
• Type B excels in environments with space for creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and personal interaction, or where managing stress is vital.

Jobs poorly suited:

• Type A may struggle in slow-paced or low-stimulation jobs.
• Type B may find constant deadlines and high-stress, competitive environments draining or demotivating.

Summary Table: Comparison

Aspect	Type A	Type B
Traits	Driven, competitive, impatient, time-sensitive	Relaxed, patient, less competitive, adaptable
Pros	Rapid progress, leadership, achievement	Creativity, low stress, flexibility
Cons	Stress, health risks, impatience	Procrastination, sometimes unambitious
Careers	Fast-paced, leadership, analytical	Creative, service, flexible, patient roles
Genetics	Moderately heritable; influenced by upbringing	As left; both gene and environment play roles

Note: Most people fall somewhere between pure Type A and B. Understanding your own tendencies can help you use your strengths and manage cha

Advantages and Challenges of Each Type

Type A Strengths and Struggles

Advantages:

• High achievement motivation drives success
• Strong leadership capabilities in crisis situations
• Excellent at meeting deadlines and managing complex projects
• Natural resilience helps overcome obstacles

Challenges:

• Increased risk of stress-related health problems
• Difficulty relaxing or “switching off” from work
• May become impatient with others’ different paces
• Higher susceptibility to burnout, especially with ADHD

Type B Strengths and Struggles

Advantages:

• Superior stress management and emotional regulation
• Enhanced creativity and innovative problem-solving
• Better work-life balance and relationship satisfaction
• Natural patience benefits collaborative environments

Challenges:

• May be perceived as lacking ambition or drive
• Tendency toward procrastination, especially with ADHD
• Might avoid necessary confrontations or difficult decisions
• Could miss advancement opportunities due to less aggressive pursuit

The Science Behind Personality Types

Genetic Foundations

Research demonstrates that personality traits have substantial genetic components, with heritability estimates ranging from 30% to 60%. However, no single “Type A gene” exists—instead, multiple genetic variations influence traits like impulsivity, stress reactivity, and competitive drive.

Epigenetic Influences

Your life experiences can literally change how your genes express themselves. Early childhood experiences, trauma, educational environments, and cultural factors all influence which inherited tendencies become dominant. This means your personality continues evolving throughout life based on your experiences and choices.

Environmental Shaping

Family dynamics, cultural values, educational systems, and social expectations significantly impact personality development. Understanding these influences helps you recognize which traits serve you well and which might need adjustment for optimal ADHD management.

Career Guidance by Personality Type

Type A Career Matches

Your natural drive and time-consciousness make you excellent for roles requiring:

• High-pressure environments: Emergency medicine, financial trading, crisis management
• Leadership positions: Executive roles, project management, team leadership
• Deadline-driven work: Journalism, event planning, legal practice
• Competitive fields: Sales, consulting, entrepreneurship

Type B Career Matches

Your creativity and adaptability shine in roles emphasizing:

• Creative industries: Graphic design, writing, artistic fields
• Service-oriented positions: Counseling, teaching, healthcare
• Flexible environments: Freelance work, remote positions, consultancy
• Collaborative settings: Human resources, social work, community organizing

Career Considerations for ADHD

Regardless of your type, consider these ADHD-specific factors:

• Structure vs. flexibility: Balance your need for routine with variety
• Stimulation levels: Ensure adequate challenge without overwhelming pressure
• Social interaction: Match your energy needs with appropriate collaboration levels
• Feedback frequency: Seek roles providing regular performance feedback

Optimizing Your Approach

For Type A with ADHD

• Build in stress management: Schedule regular breaks and relaxation activities
• Practice patience: Develop mindfulness techniques for managing impatience
• Delegate effectively: Recognize when to share responsibilities
• Set realistic timelines: Account for ADHD time estimation challenges

For Type B with ADHD

• Create artificial urgency: Use timers and deadlines to maintain momentum
• Seek accountability: Partner with others for motivation and follow-through
• Highlight achievements: Actively communicate your contributions and successes
• Embrace your strengths: Leverage creativity and adaptability as competitive advantages

Resources

Explore these valuable resources for deeper understanding:

• ADD Resource Center Personality Assessment Tools
• ADHD and Personality Research Updates
• Career Guidance for ADHD Adults

Bibliography

Meyer, H. ADD Resource Center. addrcc.org

Rosenthal, M. & Mitchell, S. (2023). Personality types and ADHD: Clinical implications for treatment. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(8), 445-462.

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Disclaimer: Our content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, errors or omissions may occur. Content may be generated with artificial intelligence tools, which can produce inaccuracies. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

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