What is the Enneagram?

The Enneagram is a system of nine personality types that help us to understand why we do what we do. At its best, the Enneagram is a profound spiritual tool that serves as a map of our personalities and combines modern psychology with traditional wisdom teachings. It helps us to understand our motivations, and allows us to see ourselves in action as we understand there is more to us than our habitual patterns of behavior and thought.

Listed below is a short description of each Enneagram type. If you are interested in learning more about the types I would recommend reading, The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson or you can go to the Enneagram Institute for more information and to take the RHETI quiz to determine your type.

The Nine Enneagram Types

Type Eight: the Challenger

The Powerful, Dominating Type

  • Essential Qualities: Immediacy, Strength, Aliveness
  • True Self: Charismatic, Confident, Take-charge, no-nonsense, can-do attitude, Assertive, Influential, Empowering, Direct, Protective, Inspiring, Good leader
  • Adapted Self: Bossy , Aggressive, My way or the highway, Loud, Confrontational, Intimidating, Vengeful, Rebellious, Explosive
  • Basic Desire: To be, and feel strong, real, and alive
  • Basic Fear: Of being violated, destroyed, or weak
  • Focus of Attention: Power, control, injustice, truth
  • Avoidance: Vulnerability, weakness
  • Blind Spot: Walking in another’s shoes, empathy

Type Nine: the Peacemaker

The Pleasant, Self-Effacing Type

  • Essential Qualities: Wholeness, Unity, Being
  • True Self: Easy-going, Diplomatic, Patient , Unpretentious, Open-minded, Down to earth, Reassuring, Accepting, Kind, Inclusive
  • Adapted Self: Indifferent, spaced out, Passive aggressive, Detached, Appeasing, Obstinate, Resigned, Neglectful, Apathetic
  • Basic Desire: To have wholeness and inner stability.
  • Basic Fear: Being insignificant, invisible, disconnected and cut off completely
  • Focus of Attention: External Environment and other people’s agendas
  • Avoidance: Conflict, disharmony
  • Blind Spot: Passivity – going along to get along

Type One: the Reformer or Idealist

The Rational, Idealistic Type

  • Essential Qualities: Goodness, Sacredness, Purity
  • True Self: Principled, Conscientious, Responsible, Idealistic, Hardworking, Persevering, Thorough, Strives for Excellence, Works for good of all
  • Adapted Self: Judgemental, Obstinate, Intolerant, Dogmatic, Critical of Others, Overly Serious, Demanding, Inflexible, Always Right
  • Basic Desire: To be aligned with the good, the Sacred, to be virtuous, to have integrity
  • Basic Fear: Of being bad, corrupt, unredeemable, unworthy
  • Focus of Attention: What is right/wrong, correct/incorrect
  • Avoidance : Condemnation, Expressing anger
  • Blind Spot: Hypocrisy

Type Two: the Helper/Giver

The Caring, Interpersonal Type

  • Essential Qualities: Love, Sweetness, Nurturing
  • True Self: Giving, Thoughtful, Sociable, Relationship oriented, Good listener, Innate people skills, Cheerful, Hospitable, Affirming, Open hearted, Generous, Compassionate
  • Adapted Self: Possessive, Manipulative, Flatterer, Possessive, Effusive, Indispensable,
  • Overly-accommodating, Seeks Appreciation, Intrusive
  • Basic Desire: To feel love and be a source of love in the world
  • Basic Fear: Of being loveless – and that there is no love
  • Focus of Attention: The needs of others
  • Avoidance: Neediness
  • Blind Spot: Manipulation of others, or being used, or over-involvement

Type Three: the Achiever/Performer

The Success-Oriented, Efficient Type

  • Essential Qualities: Value, Preciousness, (Value of our existence, importance of esteeming self and others), Glory – like a light shining from the inside out
  • True Self: Competent, Goal Oriented, Self-confident, Productive, Competitive, Successful, Good leaders, Inspirational, Motivates others, Enthusiastic
  • Adapted Self: Image conscious, Self-promoting, Workaholic, Arrogant, Superficial, Insensitive, Defensive, Insensitive
  • Basic Desire: To feel valuable and worthwhile
  • Basic Fear: of having no personal identity
  • Avoidance : They hate the “F” word – Failure
  • Blind Spot: Using others for self-promotion

Type Four: the Individualist/Romantic

The Sensitive, Introspective Type

  • Essential Qualities: Depth, Beauty, Identity
  • True Self: Creative,   Sensitive, Compassionate, Perceptive, Intuitive, Sentimental, Expressive, Unique, Always seeking meaning
  • Adapted Self: Moody, Withdrawn, Depressive, Self-absorbed,  Dramatic, Possessive, Eccentric, Self-pitying, Exaggerated
  • Basic Desire: To find my true self and my personal significance
  • Basic Fear: have no identity or personal significance- being unnoticed
  • Avoidance : Ordinariness, feeling unneeded, and unheard
  • Blind Spot: Finding gratitude with what is present

Type Five: the Investigator/Observer

The Intense, Cerebral Type

  • Essential Qualities: Knowledge, Illumination, Clarity
  • True Self: Intelligent, Knowledgeable, Perceptive, Private, Solitary, Scholarly, Curious, Insightful, Witty, Observant, Thorough, Rational
  • Adapted Self: Distant, Cynical, Private, Unassertive, Intense, Miserly, Isolated, Heady, Abstract, Self-reliant
  • Basic Desire: To understand reality, to uncover the essence of things
  • Basic Fear: Of having no ability to know what is real and true (lost in ignorance and senselessness) or of being depleted
  • Avoidance: Depletion – too much or too little
  • Blind Spot: Disconnection from emotional or physical self

Type Six: the Loyalist

The Security-Oriented Type

  • Essential Qualities: Awakeness, Guidance, Commitment
  • True Self: Trustworthy, Responsible, Supportive   , Practical, Determined, Cooperative, Dedicated, Interdependent, Loyal
  • Adapted Self: Cautious, Controlling, Hyper-vigilant, Suspicious, Dependent, Indecisive, Ambivalent, Doubtful, Security Conscious
  • Basic Desire: To feel real ground and direction, a trustworthy orientation
  • Basic Fear: Of being lost without support and guidance – being without orientation
  • Avoidance: Rejection and betrayal
  • Blind Spot: Forgetting to see the positive side

Type Seven: the Enthusiast

The Excited, Variety-Seeking Type

  • Essential Qualities: Joy, Freedom, Positivity
  • True Self: Optimistic, Enthusiastic, Spontaneous, Charming, Imaginative, Entertaining, Visionary, Engaging, Playful, Versatile
  • Adapted Self: Impulsive, Superficial, Distracted, Restless, Unreliable, Inconsistent, Excessive, Flighty, Escapist
  • Basic Desire: To be happy, free, and satisfied – to be fulfilled
  • Basic Fear: Of being trapped and deprived
  • Avoidance: Limitations and deprivations
  • Blind Spot: Feeling Negative emotions