Enneagram Introduction

Enneagram Introduction

by Cory Caplinger

The Enneagram measures human personality by 9 basic types. However, instead of measuring surface traits, it gets below that and into motivations. Motivations can often give off the same behaviors, so that is why people of the same motivation may appear just like each other on the outside -- or not.

The Nine Basic Types

Type One - Perfectionistic, orderly, hard-working, ethical, conscientious. They can be very rational and idealistic, but can also be judgemental and convinced they are always right.
Motivation: To be right, ethical, perfect.

Type Two - Generous, friendly, prideful, seductive, reassuring. They can be very loving and dedicated, but also possessive and manipulative.
Motivation: To be loved, thanked, important in others' lives.

Type Three - Ambitious, goal-oriented, adaptable, deceiving, presentable. They can be exemplars of "all you can be", but also shallow and arrogant.
Motivation: To be admired by others, successful, a winner.

Type Four - Creative, depressive, romantic, shy, unique. They can be profound artists who express the inexpressable, but also self-hating and clinging.
Motivation: To understand the self, be unique, express themselves.

Type Five - Insightful, theoretical, detached, eccentric, intense. They can be extremely brilliant and inventive, but also nihilistic and alienated.
Motivation: To understand the world, find safety from it, become skilled.

Type Six - Loyal, skeptical, complex, paranoid, dependable. They can be excellent team players but get lost in scapegoating and fear.
Motivation: To find security, resolve their paranoia.

Type Seven - Enthusiastic, worldy, optimistic, scattered, accomplished. They can truly love life like no one else, but can fall victim to hedonism and excess.
Motivation: To experience life, be happy, not miss out.

Type Eight - Powerful, leading, aggressive, cruel, protective. They can be magnamious leaders who get the job done, but can become violent and terrorizing.
Motivation: To be in control, strong, independent.

Type Nine - Peaceful, receptive, complacent, forgetting, gentle. They can be relaxed and terrific friends, but can become unaware of reality and problems.
Motivation: To be at peace, be in harmony with the universe.

Wings

You may have seen a type or two above that sounds like you. A "wing" is a type next to yours which offers "reinforces" your personality. For example, suppose Type Four sounds most like you. Your wing is either 3 or 5. A Four with a Three Wing (written 4w3) is a Four, but with many Three traits and motivations along with it. A Four with a Five Wing (4w5) would be a Four as well, but different in that it takes on many of Five's characteristics.

There is some contraversy over wings. Many people do not believe wings have to be next to a type, creating examples such as 4w9, 7w2, etc. Others maintain both wings on each side play an equal role. Some say they don't even matter at all! However, orthodox enneagram theory says we are affected by both types on the side of us, but one wing plays a more predominant role.

Integration/Disintegration

The lines on the enneagram indicate the direction of integration and disintegration. We "integrate", when we are secure, mentally healthy, and working towards the positive. We "disintegrate" out of stress, or when our mental health goes more negative. For example, look at the diagram...

Here we can see the directions of integration and disintegration for Type Two. When a Two integrates, they take on some of Eight and Four's positive traits. Twos normally can't say no to anybody, and when they move to Eight, they learn to do so. Likewise, they feel they have no problems, but everybody else has problems, so the Two feels the need to help others out with their problems. The Four is the opposite; they feel that only they themselves have problems. When a Two moves to Four, he or she realizes that they have needs to and that they are important.

When a Two disintegrates, they take on Eight and Four's negative traits. The once caring, helpful Two has become controlling and manipulative, like an Eight. They can also take on a "victim" role and try and make others feel guilty for causing them so much pain, just like Fours.

Head/Heart/Body Types

Body Types - 8, 9, 1. The Body Types all have issues relating to their instinct, or to be specific, relating to others. Eights, who are assertive and hard-working, tend to overexpress their instinct. Nines, who are friendly and laid-back are most out of touch with their instinct. Ones, who are anal-retentive and try to suppress emotions underexpress their instinct.

Heart Types - 2, 3, 4. The Heart Types all have issues relating to their feelings, or to be specific, with their image. Twos, who can sometimes seem intrusive and overly-emotional overexpress their feelings. Threes, who ignore their feelings in order to get the job done, and be successful, are the most out of touch with their feelings. Fours, who despite feeling emotions deeply, don't like to express them directly, and instead communicate usually through subtle communication or an art form, and therefore underexpress their feelings.

Head Types - 5, 6, 7. The Head Types all have issues with their thoughts, or to be specific, fear and anxiety. Fives, who are removed from the physical world because they are frightened of it in a way, live in their minds, and overexpress their thoughts. Sixes, who are can't trust themselves nor anybody on the outside are caught in fear, and are thus most out of touch with their thoughts. Sevens who are afraid of introspection, turn to the outside world for action and experience, making them underexpress their thoughts.

Conclusion

These are the basic structures of orthodox enneagram theory. Others out there have come up with more advanced theories and ideas, such as Don Riso's Levels of Development. Others have stressed the importance of Instinctual Variants. For more information on these ideas and other advanced enneagram material, please visit the Articles section. If you still haven't found what you're looking for, try the Chat Room or Forum and ask some people to personally explain the enneagram to you. Be patient with it. It's a more difficult (and complex) system than the Myers-Briggs, but ultimately more meaningful, descriptive, and enlightening.

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