(taken from the book, "Life Beyond 100: Secrets of the Fountain of Youth", by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.)
Eysenck's Personality Types
Perhaps one of the most interesting studies of this phenomenon was completed by Hans Eysenck working with a colleague in Germany. Essentially, Eysenck categorized individuals into four basic lifestyle personalities:
Type I individuals tend to have a lifelong pattern of hopelessness. These individuals seem to have had a feeling of abandonment in childhood, and they always want love and nurturing from someone who is not capable of, or interested in, returning that love. Therefore, they often choose an abusive spouse or crave a relationship with someone with whom it is not possible. These Type I individuals have an average life expectancy 35 years less than certain other types. Incredibly, Eysenck found that 75 percent of adult individuals who die of cancer have a Type I personality, as do 15 percent of adults who die of heart disease.
Type II individuals have a lifelong pattern of severe blame or anger. They feel abused. They often pick fights or act as if they want to pick a fight. Seventy-five percent of adults who die of heart disease have this type of personality, as do 15 percent of people who die of cancer.
Type III individuals are mixed. They bounce between hopelessness and anger. Approximately 9 percent of people who die of cancer or heart disease have a Type III personality.
Type IV individuals are those whom Abraham Maslow would have called self-actualized. These individuals believe happiness is an inside job and approach life with an almost Zenlike sensibility: You cannot make me happy; you cannot make me unhappy. Type IV individuals tend to die of old age or natural causes. Fewer than 1 percent of individuals who die of cancer or heart disease have a basic Type IV personality.
I guess you can't really argue with facts, but if this is truly the case, it should give everyone more of a reason to let go of old grudges, and just focus on happiness, rather than unhappiness. I mean, life is short, so why bother living the rest of it dwelling on negativity? :)
2 comments:
Intersting to categorize people that way. Hopefully I am not full of hopelessness, anger or blame.
Hopefully you aren't. :)
Personally, I think I'm probably a Type III, but I'm making an effort to transition over to a Type IV..
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