Discover Your Personality Through The Enneagram

It is taught by many teachers of the Enneagram that a person can only have one place/number on the Enneagram. Whilst a person's Enneagram type remains the same throughout their lifetime, their characteristics may soften or become more pronounced as they grow and develop.

It is also taught that we are also influenced strongly by the numbers on either side of our core personality type. For example as a type five I am heavily influenced by type 4 however my core traits are that off a type five.

To discover their Enneagram type, an individual should first make an honest assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. There are many free resources on the internet where people can assess what their type may be. I have posted some links to websites which I have found extremely helpful in the past.

http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/Tests_Battery.asp

However, once a person has an idea of what number on the Enneagram which they best associate with, I strongly recommend that you read carefully through all the nine types to confirm that number with which you most closely identify is accurate. You will also identify what your wing is by doing this. I will explain all about the term wing(s) in reference to the Enneagram at a later stage.

Classically, there is one number who will, having reviewed all the numbers say that they can see a little of themselves in all the numbers. Off course I won't mention what type that is but thats the beauty of the Enneagram, you can anticipate some peoples responses before you actually encounter them....amazing or what!

I should mention at this stage that the Enneagram is in use by the FBI, CIA and large corporations as a means of anticipating individual's reactions to certain situations which maybe stressful.

The Nine Personality Types

Type One: The Perfectionist, The Reformer, The Critic & the Impatient Orderly.

Type Two: The Helper, The Giver & the Loving person.

Type Three: The Achiever, The Performer, The Motivator & The Effective Person

Type Four: The Romantic, The Artist, The Individualist & The Connoisseur.

Type Five: The Observer, The Thinker, The Investigator, The Innovator & The Sage.

Type Six: The Loyalist, The Trooper, The Devil's Advocate & The Trouble-shooter.

Type Seven: The Adventurer, The Epicure, The Optimist & The Generalist.

Type Eight: The Challenger, The Leader, The Top Dog & The Leader.

Type Nine: The Mediator, The Abdicator, The Peacemaker & the Equaliser.

Type One of the Enneagram is sometimes known as The Perfectionist, The Reformer, The Impatient Orderly and can be described as the rational idealistic individual. Type One lives life in an idealistic, principled and honest manner and the basic desire of the One, is to make everyone and everything as perfect as possible.

"The Perfectionist worldview stems from an assumption that there is one ultimately correct solution for every situation. Ones are dedicated to the one right way as a statement of character, regardless of how attractive other ways might be. The notion that there be can multiple right ways or that what is right for one person may be an incorrect approach for another feels like opening the door to chaos. If people were allowed to do as they pleased, what would prevent evil from destroying all that was good?" (Helen Palmer 1988)

Ones boast a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong, and often align themselves to religious and moral Values. Equipped with this inner set of values and high standards, it can often cause Ones to become dissatisfied with reality, as reality seldom matches up to their worldview. Such assertions of dissatisfaction by Ones, leads others to view them as being high-minded idealists or as being highly opinionated.

Ones are keenly aware about how others perceive them. Hyper sensitive to criticism from others, they develop a weariness of being judged negatively. They are also quick to form opinions about other people. In judging others, Ones are as hard on themselves as they are on others, even though this may go unnoticed by others.

Promoting action to feeling, Ones focus more on the work side of life than on relationships. They dread being compromised by the mistakes of others and they also do not believe in taking chances as risks and chances lead to mistakes and possibly doing the "wrong" thing.

In a leadership role, Ones are viewed as solid, conscientious people who have a clear vision of the correct result and how to get there. At their best, One leaders tend to set a high-minded moral tone that is not only principled but also workable.

The main compulsion of Ones is to achieve order and perfection within the world they operate and this can cause them to suffer many disappointments as the world seldom matches their high ideal. The Ones inevitably deal with the disappointments by becoming angry, however this anger is repressed inwardly and seldom vented.

Type Two of the Enneagram is sometimes referred to as the Helper, the Giver, the Loving person and can be described as the caring interpersonal type, whose basic desire is to feel loved and wanted. Twos are capable of being unselfish, disinterested, and altruistic, giving unconditional love to others and are empathetic, compassionate, caring, warm and concerned.

Very appreciative of approval and encouragement, Twos spend a lot of energy in seeking positive actions from those around them. They like to feel needed and even indispensable. This reliance on people, can result in a lack of attention to themselves and in some cases, they can experience a neglect of their own needs.

Twos are very open with their emotions and are affectionate and forthcoming with people.However a Twos display of affection can in fact be hiding their own true needs. A key motivation for the Two is to be loved and be in a position to express his or hers feelings for others.

Twos may become irritated or upset if their real needs are not at one with their accustomed giving behaviours. The people-centered approach and turning on the charm makes them adept at relating to people Generous, caring, and warm, they intuitively know what others need and what will make the lives of others better.

Although outwardly unselfish, Twos do expect reciprocation for their good deeds. They can feel devastated, hurt, and angry if their good actions are not acknowledged by way of cards, gifts or other signs of appreciation.

Twos have the ability to build people up and make them feel good about themselves and as they are perceived as kind-hearted and gentle, they are seen to able to have a reconciliatory and harmonious effect on relationship development. Twos communicate to the world by the use of compliments, seductive charm and being able to cajol people by the use of personal questions (Goldberg 1999).

Widely referred to as the Achiever, the Performer, the Effective Person, the Producer, threes can be viewed as self-confident, adaptable, efficient, goal oriented, energetic and outgoing people. Possessing what appears to be a high self-esteem, they take a great deal of pride in themselves, their appearance and their abilities. Striving for excellence through competence is the noticeable hallmark of Threes.

"The Three work style centers on competence and effectiveness. In general they set challenging but achievable goals and take moderate but not excessive risks. They prefer frequent, concrete feedback on how they are progressing toward their goals. Prominent and structured appraisal, feedback, and reward systems are like manna from heaven for a Three." (Goldberg 1999)

The Threes ambitious tendencies drives them towards becoming social climbers and careerists. They are often perceived as developing a narcissistic leaning in their personality, which usually goes hand in hand with their grandstanding and captivating behaviour. According to Don Riso(1987) the problem is that narcissism is not the same as genuine self-esteem. Although Threes may come across as being "coolly self-contained" they are not as secure as their image portrays. In fact their self-esteem is based not on their real capabilities and capacity but on their ability to captivate the attention and praise of others.

To this end, they can sometimes adopt opportunistic and manipulative means to preserve their perception of superiority. In pursuit of the perfect public image Threes need constant approval and like to be the focus of any positive attention. The strong desire to achieve and the avoidance of failure spurs them to acquire keenly honed social skills and finesse. Fiercely competitive and highly efficient in their manner of living, they believe that "love comes from what you produce rather than from who you are" (Helen Palmer 1988).

Focused in their search of success, Threes work best when the goals set are well defined and they are well rewarded when they achieve their targets. The constant search for approval or reward can deceive Threes as to their intrinsic value, devoid of external accomplishments.

As a result, a level of arrogance can conceal any insecurity that may be present. Threes are known to recover quickly from set backs due to their optimistic nature and their avoidance of failure. They do not like to be burdened by negative emotions or people and actively seek affiliations with successful and powerful individuals. Threes show "selective attention to whatever is positive, tuning out of negatives." (Palmer 1988)

Threes are experts at using their credentials, titles and qualifications as a means to impress their value upon the world but because their constant avoidance of failure, Threes are highly susceptible to becoming workaholics and also may suffer from manic-depression.

In the Enneagram world, Fours are commonly described as the Romantic, the Connoisseur, the Original, the Individualist and the Artist. The basic desire of Fours is to 'find themselves' and reveal their unique significance to the world. Fours have an artistic, romantic orientation to life, often creating beautiful and aesthetic environments around them.

Type Fours are capable of expressing themselves through works of art, fine literature, or music. Fours are highly individual and value originality and are able to value and appreciate beauty. They tend to have a craving for the drama and tragedy of life, and are drawn to sorrowful and intense situations including grief, death and depression.

In order to survive in the world, Fours have a tendency to "have a strong emotional resonance and responsiveness to life" (Wagner 1996). They feel that they are special or different to the rest of the world. Over identification with this idealised self-image can cause Fours to become "an eccentric caricature of reality" (Wagner 1996).

Fours have an overriding sense of abandonment and can complain or feel that something is missing, something that would make their life whole.

Envious of what others have, they can form longings for the element in their life that may not be present, a lover, a friend, or an unfulfilled dream. This preoccupation can draw them into a world of dark moods swings, a feeling of emptiness and even despair.

Fours can suffer from low self-esteem as they harbour a negative self-image of themselves and they often deal with this by creating a fantasy self, an idealised self-image primarily built up in their minds. They can become self-indulgent and can view themselves with an element of self hatred resulting in a need for a sense of intensity and sensory stimulation in order to feel alive.

Fours fear the common and ordinary and they believe that if you're ordinary then you're nobody. The ordinary is too mundane for the Four, they feel they exist to stand out from the crowd. This is often done by retreating into a fantasy world filled with intensity, colour and drama.

Fives are often called the Observer, the Thinker, the Innovator, the Investigator, the Sage, and can be characterised by their ability to detach themselves from feelings, needs, and people.

"Whenever Fives feel overwhelmed by people or circumstances, instantly and reflexively they detach from direct engagement with their senses and emotions and retreat into their minds. In effect, they are trying to find a safe vantage point from which they can more objectively assess their situation." (Riso and Hudson 1999)

This ability is a reaction to their basic fear of being helpless, useless, incapable and ultimately been overwhelmed by the world. Fives form their lives in a way that makes them as independent and self-sufficient as possible.

The ability to detach from life underscores a Five's propensity to think rather than act and to observe, rather than get involved. As a result, Fives are able to observe the reality around them and have the ability to get to the heart of the matter or as (Wagner 1996) states " peer through extraneous details to get to the basic structures".

Fives are sensitive to interactions that draw attention to themselves in a public manner. They have little time for self-promotion, competition and displays of emotion, as they feel that by indulging in such behaviour it may play into other people's hands (Palmer 1988). Fives need to remain in control of their emotions and desires and remain weary of any interactions that could cause them to be judged by others.

The acquisition of knowledge for a five is both easy and interesting, the desire to be competent drives Fives to seek knowledge and they believe that only knowledge can shield them from the world's intrusions.

Fives can hoard information and hold onto what they have and know, even going as far as being stingy with their time, possessions, ideas, feelings and self. This tendency inevitably leads to a state of thinking rather than doing, and also the avoidance of dealing with emotions.

Rather than directly engaging with emotions, Fives want to interpret them. They are drawn to analytic systems that may explain human behaviour and the reasons why we do what we do and act the way we act. Fives have little or no time for big parties, surprises, loud music, overdone emotions, or anything else that they may deem as an intrusion of privacy. Their sense of integrity translates into actions which they believe are right and not influenced by social pressure.

Fives want to "understand the environment, to gain more knowledge, to interpret everything as a way of defending the self from threats from the environment" (Riso 1987). Believing they are only worth what they contribute, Fives have learned to withdraw, to watch with keen eyes and speak only when they can shake the world with their observations. Sometimes they do just that, however they can on occasion withdraw from the world, becoming reclusive hermits and fending off social contact with abrasive cynicism. Fives fear incompetency or uselessness and want to be capable above all else.

Type Six is commonly described with as the Trooper, the Troubleshooter, the Loyalist, the Devil's Advocate, the Defender and is viewed as dutiful, committed and security-oriented type.

Sixes are most loyal to their friends, their beliefs', their family and their community. The reason for this absolute loyalty is their basic fear of having no support and being unable to survive on their own.

Sixes are hardworking and industrious in the pursuit of stability and security in their lives. They constantly look for and will align themselves with an authority figure they can trust, but also are weary of authority figures who may abuse their power and as a result have the earned the title of loyal skeptics.

Self-doubting and a constant anxiety is central to their lives and can result in, as (Palmer 1988) states "amnesia with respect to success and pleasure".

The basic fear that Sixes live with is of "having no support and guidance, of being unable to survive on their own" (Riso and Hudson 1999). This leaves them in a constant state of fear of the inevitable happening, in other words, that the light at the end of the tunnel is an on-coming train.

It is critical for Sixes to maintain a good support system in their lives. They tend to lack independence and require guidelines to direct them. As a friend or supporter, Sixes are extremely loyal but they in turn inwardly presume, that this show of loyalty will protect them from a world of doubts and anxieties. They display great warmth, respect, trustworthiness and reliability when dealing with others and when a Six gives their word they keep it.

They tend to be very security-conscious and constantly scan their environment for the possibility of danger or threats, so much so, that safe havens and security zones are vital to feeling protected.

Sixes experience intense feelings of suspicion, paranoia, indecision, and fearfulness when they have a sense of being alone, trapped or insecure. Sixes are hesitant in assuming the mantle of responsibility especially when it comes to standing over their own actions. They have a tendency to attribute blame to others for their own problems and mistakes.

Sixes are the "worrywarts of the Enneagram" (Goldberg 1999). Driven by their anxiety, they will protect their inner circle at all costs and are often suspicious and skeptical of outsiders. While they dread making important decisions, they will resist any attempt to have important decisions made for them as they fear being controlled.

Within the Enneagram, Sixes confront their fears in two distinct ways, either in a phobic or in a counterphobic manner, that is, a flight or fight approach to conflict.

"Phobic Sixes hide and submit when they feel cornered. Counterphobics, equally afraid, challenge their fears in an aggressive way" (Palmer 1995).

Sevens are referred to as the Enthusiast, the Adventurer, the Visionary, the Generalist, the Epicure and are viewed generally as a fun-loving, spontaneous, extroverted and enthusiastic type.

Seen as the Eternal Peter Pan of the Enneagram, Sevens "approach life with curiosity, optimism, and a sense of adventure, like kids in a candy store who look at the world in a wide-eyed, rapt anticipation of all the good things they are about to experience" (Riso and Hudson 1999).

Life to a Seven is full of adventure; they are motivated by its unlimited possibilities and their need to be happy ensures that they see the bright side of any situation. However once Sevens stop enjoying what they do, they lose all interest in doing it.

"Sevens are motivated by the need to be happy and plan enjoyable activities, to contribute to the world and to avoid suffering and pain"(Baron and Wagele 1994)

Sevens tend to be productive, imaginative, enthusiastic, confident and spontaneous. They want to maintain their freedom and optimism and avoid their basic fear "of being deprived and trapped in pain" (Riso and Hudson 1999).

In order to match their basic desire "to be happy, satisfied" and to "find fulfillment" (Riso and Hudson 1999), they throw themselves into what they see as worthwhile experiences to keep themselves stimulated and occupied. Because of their imaginative side, they tend to be ideas people, constantly drumming up various scenarios and possibilities. They "juggle prospects and opportunities in order to keep their options perpetually open" (Goldberg 1999) and because they value seeing the big picture rather than the detail, they can find difficult to commit to tasks and people.

Sevens are often viewed as being gluttonous or over-indulgent and these traits come from their desire to experience high levels of excitement. Further to this it is argued that they develop a form of escapism in order to avoid painful or limiting realities and tasks. Sevens seek out people who will admire them and are most prone to this form of self-flattery.

However, their impulse for variation often leads to them being viewed as superficial, distracted, unreliable and undisciplined.

Sevens are summed up as being likened to Peter Pan, they think wonderful thoughts and concentrate on imaginative outcomes that excite them, at the same time avoiding anything heavy that could bring them back down to reality.

Described as the Challenger, the Top Dog, the Boss, the Asserter, the Leader, Eights tend to be self-confident, energetic, fearless, decisive, domineering and confrontational.

Eights seek to be self-sufficient, have financial independence and autonomy. Their basic fear is to avoid being harmed, controlled or even violated by others. Their desire is to protect themselves and to be able to determine their own course in life.

As a result Eights will try to influence those around them and feel a sense of accomplishment and vindication when their attempts of influence are successful.

Eights are attracted to and appreciate power and they certainly know how to get it , keep it and use it. The Eight can use their influence to bring about good, however they can over-identify with the image of being powerful and capable. This in-turn can cause them to become addicted to power and control and rely on it to manipulate others.

Eights often come across as a powerful dominating personality type and are viewed as being very direct, straightforward and even blunt. Eights tend to be what you see is what you get kind of people. They are able to seize control and make quick decisions, mainly because it stops any chance of them being controlled.

Eights are viwed as been very direct and outspoken and they see no reason to restrain themselves from voicing their opinions and as a result tact would not be their strongest point. Eights believe that only positions of strength or weakness can exist and view the world and people in terms of those who are worthy of their attention and those who are not.

Eights are not concerned with popularity contests or about being liked, to them being able to trust those around them is more important. The Eight never forgets injuries or injustices done to them by others and as stated in Wagner (1996), "Vengeance is mine, saith the Eight."

They look instinctively for the position of power in all life situations and when among other Eights will amplify their presence, conceding only to those who are more powerful than themselves. Eights' desire to dominate often results in their being perceived as insensitive and punitive.

Of all the Enneagram types, Eights are the most comfortable with aggression and open expression of anger. Eights cannot tolerate pretence, flattery, indecision or a lack of information. They can show little patience for even the smallest mistakes on the part of others however can be quite compassionate to others in position of weakness.

Eights will enforce those rules which match their own personal agenda and when required, bend the ones that do not. They believe in pushing boundaries to the limit and beyond and they can "intimidate and mesmerize others into following" them (Wagner 1996).

The Eights strength lies is their ability to be self-reliant and have self-determination. If in a negative mindset they can become ruthless, combative, intimidating and ultimately destructive.

Nines are often referred to as the Peacemaker, the Mediator, the Peaceful Person, the Equaliser and they give the appearance of being easy-going, reassuring, agreeable and complacent. They are viewed as been patient and unpretentious, radiating equanimity and contentment.

In trying to preserve the peace they strive so hard to avoid conflict that they can become unassertive and self-forgetful.

Within the world, Nines have a strong fear of conflict and it tends to lead them into situations of self-forgetfulness, excessive accommodation and indecisiveness. This fear of conflict springs from a more basic fear of loss and separation and possibly complete isolation.

Making choices can be very difficult for the nine as they can see the advantages and disadvantages of not upsetting the status quo of a situation. For a Nine an environment of harmony is comfortable and conflict leads to disturbance. As a result, if the Nine is able to understand others point of view then this should help to avoid potential conflicts.

Always trying to balance life the Nine finds it much easier to go along with others' preferences rather than trying to find or assert their own. According to Goldberg (1999) Nines tend to be people of "enormous goodwill" who will work away steadily supporting the ideas and agendas of others. While not seeking any limelight for themselves if it comes, the Nine will accept it.

Making decisions proves very difficult for the Nine, as arriving at a decision everyone agrees with can be difficult. When the Nine finally realises what they want, they can become quite stubborn about getting it. Alternatively they may agree with someone on a particular issue but do their own thing anyway. More often though, it is difficult for them to figure out what it is that they want.

They are also fearful of their desires conflicting with those of others. They feel energised by other people's enthusiasm. Nines often display a preference for procedures and set processes. They are forever trying to achieve, inwardly and outwardly, a sense of peace and harmony and this pursuit tends to lead them to become over-accommodating to other peoples agendas.

This can cause a Nine to react angrily when people are not appreciative of their efforts. The anger shows in a volcanic style eruption, which in its aftermath leaves them feeling very guilty for having disturbed the harmony and leaves them with a sense of separation, their basic fear.

Forever trying to pacify others, Nines have a tendency to neglect themselves and their own actual needs. They often use habits such as watching TV, gossip, sleeping a lot, or working on the computer to suppress their feelings of anxiety.

While Nines have a difficulty in maintaining a personal point of view, causing them internal conflict, they readily find themselves resonating and supporting the position of others.

While sitting on the fence is the preferred choice of Nines, as they can be seen to agree with a viewpoint, this does mean they will actually commit to it. Once committed to a cause or option, Nines will resist any pressure to change their viewpoint with a show of outright stubbornness. This entrenchment will assist the Nine in forcing their will on a given situation.

The Nines' desire is to "maintain their inner stability and peace of mind" and this ultimately leads them to just "go with the flow" (Riso and Hudson 1999) in order to keep their world balanced.

By studying the analytical behaviour system that is the Enneagram, people can truly become self-aware of the motivations and the compulsions which drive them on a daily basis.

People tend to judge each other in rather harsh terms, never giving any consideration to why people act the way they do. Once a person becomes self aware of their own type and its associated traits, then and only then, can they look to find where others are on the Enneagram.

By doing this, they can understand others can act out of a consistent philosophy of life that makes perfect sense to them, however unconventional or inconsiderate it may seem to others.

Apart from people's personal lives, the workplace can act as an unhealthy battleground for the exposition and interaction of personalities. This is where the Enneagram and all its wisdom can truly challenge people's behaviour. It can be used as a catalyst for real change and growth in people and orgnisations at all levels and could unlock unlimited potential within any workforce.

However, people within a particular type can often find that they are similar but yet there are some significant differences between them. This can be explained by the influence of the numbers on either side of a particular type (known as the Wings), the stress points, the sub-types, the ego-fixations and the defence mechanisms.

I will be creating new lenses dealing with all these issues....so keep in touch.