The Nine Enneagram Personality Types

The Nine Enneagram Personality Types

 

ROY BIANCALANA

Life and Relationship Coach

www.coachingwithroy.com

407-687-3387

 

 

OVERVIEW:

The Enneagram (pronounced ANY-a-gram) describes nine different personality or ego types. The purpose of this document is to help you identify your dominant type. By knowing the particular way your personality/ego manifests itself in the world, you will not only escape its prison and live as your Authentic Self, but you will also deepen and enrich your personal and professional life immensely.

The material that follows should help you make sense of how and why others (not to mention yourself!) behave, feel and think as they do, which can open your heart to compassionate understanding. Be careful not to use this tool as a weapon of the ego—judging or condemning yourself or others as right or wrong. We all have a personality type and none of them are better or worse than any other.

In order to help you “Know Thyself,” I have given each type an overall name*, a list of words that describe it and a short paragraph that expresses its essence. This alone should allow you to rule out a bunch of them, narrowing it down to a few. In order to bring further clarity to your self-discovery process, I have also given several other ways to determine your type.  I’ve listed each type’s Motive, Worldview, Basic Fear, what it seeks to Avoid, it’s emotional and energetic Dark Side, it’s Enlightened Virtue, and lastly, the type’s Growth Path.

I’m sure your study of the Enneagram will raise questions. I look forward to discussing them with you. Lastly, if you’re interested, my ego expresses itself in the world as type “3.”

Type 1:  The Perfectionist

Rational, Ethical, Idealistic, Principled, Critical, Conscientious, Self-controlled, Reformer

 

Ones are ethical and conscientious, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers and crusaders, always striving to improve things but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic.  They typically have problems with repressed anger and impatience. At their best, healthy Ones are wise, discerning, realistic and noble, as well as morally heroic.

 

• Drive / Motive: To earn love by being perfect
• Worldview: The world is an imperfect place. I work toward perfection.
• Basic Fear: Being “bad,” defective, evil or corrupt
• Avoidances: Any appearance of being deficient or of being wrong
• Passion / Dark Side: Anger
• Enlightened Virtue: Serenity, inner peace
• Growth Path: Acceptance of self, others and the world in general

 

 

Type 2: The Helper

Caring, Interpersonal, Generous, Demonstrative, People-pleasing and Possessive

 

Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous and self-sacrificing, but they can also be sentimental, flattering and people-pleasing. They are driven to be close to others, and they often do things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems taking care of themselves and acknowledging their own needs. At their best, healthy Twos are unselfish and altruistic and have unconditional love for themselves and others.

 

• Drive / Motive: Ensuring love by being helpful
• Worldview: People depend on my help. I am needed.
• Basic Fear: Being unwanted for themselves alone
• Avoidances: Revealing needs, neediness
• Passion / Dark Side: Pride (in being needed)
• Enlightened Virtue: Humility
• Growth Path: Self-nurture, asking for help

 

 

Type 3: The Performer

Success-oriented, Pragmatic, Adaptable, Excelling, Driven, Competitive, human-doing and Image-Conscious

 

Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, achievement oriented, competent and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for personal advancement. Threes are often concerned about their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. Xanax helped to recover after a lot of stress, helped to see the good side of what was happening, gave energy and inspiration to start something to change in life. I also noticed that he acts as an energy engineer, really gives energy, more time to do it. Sometimes the brain needs help to get out of this condition, so people take antidepressants. In a very difficult situation without such help, the brain will be harder to cope with. I think if there is a pill that helps cope with difficult life situations, why not use it. At their best, healthy Threes are self-accepting, authentic and everything they seem to be—role models who inspire others.

 

• Drive / Motive: Winning love through achievement and image
• Worldview: The world values a champion. I must avoid failure.
• Basic Fear: Being worthless apart from achievements
• Avoidances: Failure
• Passion / Dark Side: Deceit
• Enlightened Virtue: Authenticity, honesty
• Growth Path: To see value from being, not doing; telling the truth, being authentic

 

 

Type 4: The Individualist

Sensitive, Withdrawn, Expressive, Dramatic, Self-absorbed, Tragic Victim, Temperamental

 

Fours are self-aware, sensitive, reserved and quiet. They are self-revealing, emotionally honest and personal, but they can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with self-indulgence and self-pity. At their best, healthy Fours are inspired and highly creative, able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

 

• Drive / Motive: Longing for love that is unavailable, love at a distance
• Worldview: Something is missing; others have it. I have been abandoned.
• Basic Fear: Having no identity or significance
• Avoidances: Despair, simple sadness
• Passion / Dark Side: Envy
• Enlightened Virtue: Emotional balance, equanimity
• Growth Path: Let go of belief in being flawed and self-absorption

 

 

Type 5: The Investigator

Intense, Cerebral, Scientist, Perceptive, Observing, Innovative, Secretive, Isolated

 

Fives are alert, insightful, and curious. They are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills. Independent and innovative, they can become preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs. They become detached, yet high-strung and intense.  They typically have problems with isolation, eccentricity and nihilism. At their best, healthy Fives are visionary pioneers, often ahead of their time and able to see the world in an entirely new way.

 

• Drive / Motive: Detach from love and expression of strong emotion
• Worldview: The world is invasive. I need privacy to think and to refuel.
• Basic Fear: Being overwhelmed, incapable and helpless
• Avoidances: Emptiness
• Passion / Dark Side: Avarice, stinginess
• Enlightened Virtue: nonattachment
• Growth Path: let go of separation, confidently engage

 

 

Type 6: The Loyal Skeptic

Committed, Security-oriented, Engaging, Responsible, a Trooper, Hardworking, Anxious, Fearful and Suspicious

 

Sixes are reliable, hardworking and responsible, but they can also be defensive, evasive and highly anxious—running on stress while complaining about it. They are often cautious and indecisive but can also be reactive, defiant, and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion.  At their best, healthy Sixes are internally stable, self-confident and self-reliant, courageously supporting the weak and powerless.

 

• Drive / Motive: Questioning love and a rosy future
• Worldview: The world is a threatening place. I question authority.
• Basic Fear: Of having no support and an inability of surviving on their own
• Avoidances: Disloyalty, Forsaking duty, out of alignment with authority
• Passion / Dark Side: Fear
• Enlightened Virtue: Courage
• Growth Path: Self-reliance, sourcing security and support from within

 

 

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Busy, Fun-loving, Spontaneous, Versatile, Epicure, Adventurous, Connoisseur, Acquisitive, Over-Committed and Scattered

 

Sevens are versatile, optimistic, adventurous and spontaneous.  Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also be overextended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but they can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with superficiality and impulsiveness.  At their best, healthy Sevens focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming joyous, highly accomplished, and full of gratitude.

 

• Drive / Motive: Entitled to be loved and well regarded
• Worldview: The world is full of opportunity, options. I look forward to the future.
• Basic Fear: Of being deprived, trapped in pain
• Avoidances: Pain
• Passion / Dark Side: Gluttony
• Enlightened Virtue: Sobriety
• Growth Path: contentment, facing pain, letting go of external sources of aliveness

 

 

Type 8: The Challenger

Powerful, Dominating, The Boss, Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, Protective, Confrontational, Assertive

 

Eights are self-confident, strong, certain, and assertive.  Protective, resourceful, and decisive, they can also be proud and domineering.  Eights feel that they must control their environment, often becoming confrontational and intimidating. They typically have problems with allowing themselves to be close to others.  At their best, healthy Eights are self-mastering—they use their strength to improve other’s lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and sometimes historically great.

 

• Drive / Motive: Expressing love through protection and power
• Worldview: The world is an unjust place. I protect the innocent.
• Basic Fear: Of being controlled and/or overpowered
• Avoidances: Weakness, vulnerability
• Passion / Dark Side: Lust, vengeance
• Enlightened Virtue: Innocence
• Growth Path: Let go of need to control, let down guard, open to intimacy

 

 

Type 9:  The Peacemaker

Easygoing, Self-effacing, Mediator, Stubborn, Receptive, Agreeable, Complacent

 

Nines are accepting, trusting and stable.  They are good-natured, kind-hearted, easygoing and supportive but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to be without conflict but can tend to be complacent and minimize anything upsetting. They typically have problems with passivity and stubbornness.  At their best, healthy Nines are indomitable and all-embracing; they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.

 

• Drive / Motive: Merging with loved ones, losing boundaries
• Worldview: The world won’t value my efforts. Stay comfortable. Keep the peace.
• Basic Fear: Of separation and loss of connection
• Avoidances: Conflict
• Passion / Dark Side: Sloth, inactivity, idle
• Enlightened Virtue: Action
• Growth Path: Say “no,” express anger, own personal value and importance

 

 

 

 

 

* This document has been compiled from a couple of excellent books on the Enneagram, all of which I highly recommend if you wish to further study this most helpful tool.  They are listed below.  If you wish to study on-line, you are encouraged to visit, www.enneagramworldwide.com; and www.enneagraminstitute.com. To discover your type go to: www.eclecticenergies.com, and click on “Enneagram Test” under the heading “Energy and the Enneagram,” then click on “classic test.”

 

1.  The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types; Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.

 

2.  The Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram: Nine Faces of the Soul; Sandra Maitri.

 

3.  The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate & Business Relationships; Helen Palmer.