Type A behavior pattern is a label for a pattern of behavior that involves extreme competiveness, time urgency (impatience), achievement striving, and hostility. First identified as a pattern of behavior in adults associated with the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD), it has since been studied extensively as it relates to both physical health (e.g., heart disease) and psychological factors (e.g., stress, coping). This competitive, ambitious, sometimes aggressive behavior pattern is relevant to clinical psychology in that it is related to both physical and mental health concerns and is potentially changeable through therapeutic methods. In addition, work in the area of type A behavior pattern and its association with heart health has helped advance the specializations of health psychology and behavioral medicine. This entry focuses ...