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Understanding people using personality types
The enneagram describes nine personality types. These types are similar to, but not the same as the Myers-Briggs personality types. The enneagram is said to be a much older tradition.
I list the general types within the system below. There are opportunities to take on-line tests to determine your type. I suggest taking at least one of the free ones.
See what you think.
I list the general types within the system below. There are opportunities to take on-line tests to determine your type. I suggest taking at least one of the free ones.
See what you think.
Some differences in approach
Differing takes on the Enneagram
The enneagram is a synthesis of ancient traditional personality types.
There are differing interpretations of the enneagram, with different names attached to the types.
The ones that I find that have the most research attached to their views are:
The Enneagram Institute
Enneagram.com - Grounded in the narrative tradition
The Enneagram Spectrum
I have been surprised that learning about personality types has helped me see people in different ways. I see personality as a continuum. We all have some of the traits. There are different personality types. Does the enneagram describe them for you? Try some tests at each site and see for yourself.
Now take a look at a brief description of the different types.
There are differing interpretations of the enneagram, with different names attached to the types.
The ones that I find that have the most research attached to their views are:
The Enneagram Institute
Enneagram.com - Grounded in the narrative tradition
The Enneagram Spectrum
I have been surprised that learning about personality types has helped me see people in different ways. I see personality as a continuum. We all have some of the traits. There are different personality types. Does the enneagram describe them for you? Try some tests at each site and see for yourself.
Now take a look at a brief description of the different types.
Enneagram doubters
Skeptics of the enneagram
There are skeptics about the enneagram as a tool of self discovery. I have found a couple of links that raise legitimate questions. Anyone looking at the enneagram should take a look at these.
From the National Catholic Reporter an article questioning the enneagram.
Mitchell Pacwa, S.J. has even more questions about the enneagram. He studied with the same man as Don Riso, Bob Ochs. Pacwa points out some impossibilities of the enneagram being an ancient art. He then describes how the current versions of the enneagram came into being in an article, Enneagram: A Modern Myth.
He also points out in another article, enneagram teachers cannot agree on what type famous people are. Are the types real? Are they based on research? Read for yourself to see what you think about the enneagram types.
From the National Catholic Reporter an article questioning the enneagram.
Mitchell Pacwa, S.J. has even more questions about the enneagram. He studied with the same man as Don Riso, Bob Ochs. Pacwa points out some impossibilities of the enneagram being an ancient art. He then describes how the current versions of the enneagram came into being in an article, Enneagram: A Modern Myth.
He also points out in another article, enneagram teachers cannot agree on what type famous people are. Are the types real? Are they based on research? Read for yourself to see what you think about the enneagram types.
The enneagram - A Survey
What do you think about it?
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Type 1 - The Reformer/The Perfectionist
Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic - Riso
Type 2 - The Helper/The Giver
Generous, Demonstrative, People-Pleasing, and Possessive - Riso
Type 3 - The Achiever/The Performer
Adaptable, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious - Riso
Type 4 The Individualist/The Tragic Romantic
Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental - Riso
Type 5 The Investigator/The Observer
Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated - Riso
Type 6 The Loyalist/The Loyal Skeptic
Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious - Riso
Type 7 The Enthusiast/The Epicure
Spontaneous, Versatile, Acquisitive, and Scattered - Riso
Type 8 The Challenger/The Protector
Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational - Riso
Type 9 The Peacemaker/The Mediator
Receptive, Reassuring Agreeable, and Complacent - Riso
Enneagram books
Discovering Your Personality Type: The Essential Introduction to the Enneagram, Revised and Expanded
Amazon Price: $10.94 (as of 07/06/2009) 
The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others In Your Life
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types
Amazon Price: $14.28 (as of 07/06/2009)
Personality tests
Some of these are free
Take one of the tests. See where you fit. Then read the description of the type. Does it fit you?
Eclectic Energies Enneagram Tests (free)
A choice of two online enneagram tests (free), to learn your personality type. A longer, and a quicker enneagram test (with wing and instinctual varia...0 points
The Triadic Enneagram Test
Free evaluation test0 points
Ennea-Graph
Ennea-Graph of Personality Type0 points
Enneagram Bloggers
- Enneagram Test Results | humblr
- Enneagram Test Results Type 1 Perfectionism |||||||||||| 44% Type 2 Helpfulness |||||||||||| 48% Typ...
- Guess my MBTI/Enneagram type - meehh.
- Recent Entries · Archive · Friends · User Info · Memories · Guess my MBTI/Enneagram type · Pre...
- The Enneagram-Another Tool for Transformation
- 0 < !--> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE < !-->
- The DailySkew: Enneagram Type One: Case Studies
- Please read my article on Enneagram Type Ones if you are unfamiliar with that Enneagram personality...
Learn more about the enneagram
- Wiki Enneagram
- Wiki article on the Enneagram. Links to critics of the enneagram. They include the Forer effect, the tendency for people to believe a supposedly tailored description of themselves even when the description has been worded in very broad terms.
- Enneagram Institute
- This is the home site of Don Richard Riso & Russ Hudson, two of the leading teachers and developers of the Enneagram system in the world today.
- Helen Palmer
- Grounded in the narrative tradition.
- Enneagram Explorations
- Tests and discussion board.
- International Enneagram Association
- International Association for the Enneagram
What do you think?
stevenhart wrote...
Hey Ralph,
I have found the Enneagram to be a powerful tool in my own self-discovery.
It has improved my relationships, my life style, and my personal growth.
I have been studying it for over 8 years and I am still learning so much from the Enneagram.
I have never seen anything like it.
Steven Hart
Posted July 06, 2008
by RalphK
I've been interested in personality types since I first took the Myers-Briggs test. My test showed me to be an INFP. (more)
