Slow and Steady for Blood Type-A People

According to an ABC News International news article, "Many Japanese people believe blood type is an indicator of everything from personality to marriage compatibility." The connection between blood type and personality is pervasive throughout the pop culture of East Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, and China. Many books have also been written about this topic. Observations about certain personalities associated with blood types can make good ice breakers, or even something to take into account when meeting new people. So if you know someone with an A blood type, here are some general observations about them that could give you the edge.

A Square

"Methodical, organized and responsible." - ABC News International.

In other words, people with A blood types tend to be squares. Give them an inch and they will take the inch and go no further. They do love their law and order. No, no the TV show. Actually, they are generally people who follow the law and crave for order. Everything needs to be in its place, as far as they are concerned. Their mantra is 'slow and steady'.

You Call This a Plan?

According to the popular blood type Korean author, Tong-Son Park, type A individuals believe preparation is the beginning of all successful plans, and they tend to plan for worst case scenarios. So working with blood type A people is a blessing and a curse. Meandering and procrastination is out of the question. There will be no winging it with A's on the team, and if things progress too fast, they will ill at ease to adapt to the pace. Thus, depending on the dynamics of the team, an A can be just what it takes to make steady progress toward a goal, or be the wet blanket of a fast paced venture.

Details, Details

Park also wrote that blood type A people are good with details, so their work is often impeccable. Again, this can be good or bad. As is often the case with people who are detail oriented, they are probably more likely to nag. They can also have trust issues that stem from being aware of the details that others seem to have blithely ignored. If they are in a position of power, this often means they are very hands on with their subordinates, i.e. micromanagers!

If at First You Don't Succeed

Chinese author Yating Guo indicated that if there is one thing that an A person can appreciate, it's persistence and perfection. So if the boss is an A person, getting a raise or a project approved could mean repeated approaches. If a favor is needed from an A friend, asking more than once will increase chances of that favor being granted. Nagging will generally work on the A people, and maybe that's why they always nag too. They care a lot about what people will think, so consensus or persistence will show them how much you want something to happen.

Possible A's in Pop Culture:

Leslie Knope from NBC's Parks & Recreation: Very detail oriented!

Bill Lumbergh (the boss) from the movie Office Space: Typical micromanager.

Are you an A, or do you know someone who has an A blood type?

References

Noriko Namiki, "Dating by Blood Type in Japan," ABC News International.

Tong-Son Pak, What's Your Bloodtype? Shi bao wen hua chu ban qi ye gu fen you xian gong si, 2010.

Yating Guo, Love Magic v.s Astrology & Blood Type, Fu nü yu sheng huo she, 1999.