About The Enneagram

What is the Enneagram?

Based on ancient wisdom, the Enneagram is a personality typology and a tool for personal transformation. The Enneagram describes nine archetypal personalties based on the following mandala.

Feeling, Thinking and Doing Types

The Enneagram is based on a triad of thinking, feeling and doing. Types 2, 3 and 4 are in the feeling triad, types 5, 6 and 7 are in the thinking triad and types 8, 9 and 1 are in the doing triad. For persons whose who describe themselves as 2, 3 and 4, their main way of experiencing the world is through their feelings and emotional life. For types 5, 6 and 7, their main way of experiencing the world is through cerebral processing, rationality and thinking. For types 8, 9 and 1, their primary experience of the world is through action, sensory experiences and doing.

Types 3, 6 and 9 are positioned on the cardinal triangle of the Enneagram. Types 2, 7 and 8 are more extraverted in their behaviour, whilst type 4, 5 and 1 are more introverted in their behaviour.

Type Descriptions

A brief description of each of the types is below.

One

Sometimes known as the reformer, the achiever or the idealist, ones are concerned with perfection and doing the right thing. They are self-critical, ethical, disciplined, fair, determined and focused. Ones are inveterate list-makers and are often dissatisfied with themselves and others. They want to appear independent and capable, but they need to learn patience. Their prime motivating force is anger.

Unhealthy ones can be dogmatic, impatient, judgemental, puritanical, punitive and cruel.

Two

Sometimes called the helper, twos are outgoing, kind, warm-hearted and giving people. They are concerned with feeling needed and loved. Twos often cannot resist giving advice. Twos need to learn independence and to comfortable when alone.

At their worst, twos can be morally superior, ingratiating, possessive, jealous and martyr-like. They can tend to live life vicariously through the experiences of others and be extremely manipulative.

Three

Threes are the succeeders of the Enneagram, the show-ponies, the leaders who act with pizzazz and charm. Threes are enthusiastic, energetic, ambitious, optimistic, vision-oriented people who are not much concerned with details. They are often great and persuasive orators, they are entertaining, motivational and fun to be with. Threes are persons who, although their type is located in the feeling triad, are most uncomfortable with feelings.

At their worst, threes can be deceitful, shallow, grandiose, exploitative, hostile and delusional. Threes are ultimately concerned with their appearance and this can lead them to neglect the internal feeling part of their natures.

Four

Fours are the artistic types and individualists of the Enneagram. They are deeply empathetic, compassionate, perceptive, sensitive, self-absorbed and self-protective people. Stuck between feeling and thinking, fours can often neglect the doing part, so the practical aspects of their lives can often be in disarray. Believing themselves to be special, fours contemplate deeply the problems of the world around them, leading them to be withdrawn and easily depressed.

At their worst, fours can be moody, pessimistic, overly dramatic, envious, insecure and tend to take everything personally.

Five

Fives are the intellectuals of the Enneagram, the persons who research, observe, investigate and derive knowledge from books. Fives are highly independent loners, who are mentally agile, wise, tender, gentle, studious, inventive, perceptive, withdrawn and dispassionate. At best, fives are the inventors, the problem solvers, the autonomous thinkers whose original ideas improve life on the planet for all of us.

At their worst, fives can be reclusive, insecure, disconnected from reality and awkward or hostile in social situations.

Six

Sixes are the safe, reliable, loyal guardians of the status quo. Sixes are deeply anxious people and medicate this anxiety with knowing the rules and by a connection to an institution or organisation, such as church, the law or public service. Sixes are the thinkers who find origination of thought difficult, preferring to stick to conservative thought and already-accepted rules. Sixes are community builders, warm-hearted, strong, steadfast, hard-workers, vigilant overseers and hospitable friends and partners.

At their worst, sixes can be intolerant, stubborn, insecure, pessimistic, vacillating and belligerent.

Seven

Sevens are the Peter Pans, the raconteurs and the enthusiasts of the Enneagram. Often the life of the party, sevens are cheerful, optimistic, eager, lively, humorous and fun people. They radiate warmth, are fascinated by all things and often have an extensive knowledge of trivia. Sevens are greedy for life, and may have issues with over-eating. Sevens are dreamers, never quite getting around to putting their grand plans into action and moving swiftly on to the next interesting thing.

At their worst, sevens are self-indulgent, delusional, immature, superficial and frustratingly unrealistic.

Eight

Eights are the born leaders of the Enneagram, the bosses, the heroes and the leaders. They act from their gut, shoot from the hip and are deeply intuitive. Eights are strong, masterful, confrontational, magnanimous, courageous, decisive and authoritative champions of people.

At their worst, eights can be highly intimidating, blunt, insensitive, domineering and disdainful.

Nine

Nines are the peace-makers. Although their type is located in the doing centre, nines find being decisive and strong the hardest course of action. Nines are receptive, serene, self-effacing, easy-going, accepting, innocent, supportive mediators. Their mantra is either 'let it be' or 'go with the flow'.

At their worst, nines are passive-aggressive, indirect, neglectful, numb and avoid conflict at any cost.