Enneagram Basics
The Enneagram of Personalities, commonly called just the enneagram, is an internal map, leading us to investigate the experiences we prefer to keep hidden in our shadow: out of sight, out of mind. While it can be thought of as a personality typing system, there is more depth built into it. Superficially, most people will recognize themselves through their behaviour and, more deeply, their motivations as one of the 9 types (or numbers) identified by the system. Some might take longer to locate themselves within it and will need to explore more in depth.
In basic terms, the enneagram divides people into 9 archetypes. Within those 9 types there are influences from the wings (the numbers beside a person’s core type), and the subtype one identifies with (three subtypes per type). These characteristics lend the colour to your own specific personality and prevent the system from putting you a box. It’s often stated that everyone is already in a box, the enneagram just shows you the colour of yours and allows you to expand the walls as you attend to your own work.
Because the enneagram is so much more than a personality test, we can think of it as an aid to knowing our self better, to improving relationships, to providing us with a potential path to deeper maturity if we take it seriously. If we approach it in this way we will benefit from it personally, and our relationships of all kinds can flourish even as we focus only on our own work and relax into allowing ourselves and others to be who they were created to be instead of needing to maintain guards around our deeper selves.
Enneagram: the traditional Vice/Virtue of each type
A diagram showing the 9 types, and their paths to stress/security
The numbers:
Type 1: The Perfectionist or Improver or Reformer
Type 1 is aware of the ideal of perfection, and of what needs to be done to make things right. They are lovers of justice because injustice is wrong. Black and white thinkers, they work towards improving any situation or person. At some time in early childhood, the 1 lost touch with the Divine presence of Someone who keeps the world running as it should, and the 1 absorbed the sense that it was their job to do it. Their emotional filter (passion/vice) is anger, which expresses as resentment or irritation rather than traditional-looking anger. The 1 has a strong inner critic telling the 1 every mistake, everything that they have done imperfectly. While the 1 can sound to others to be critical and resentful, their perspective is that everyone wants to be the best they can be and telling you where and how to improve is an act of love.
Type 2: The Giver or Helper
Type 2 has a heightened sense of what people need and they love to be the one to help. They lead with their heart in all situations and can often give aid that is delicately just right. Often unable to identify their own needs, the two reaches out to others in order to have their own needs met. As a result they might give when no help is wanted; pride is their emotional filter (passion/vice) in the sense that they are proud of their ability to be the one who is best suited to help. The 2 child felt the fear that they were not loved if they showed their own needs but were loved when they were helpful to others. Gaining love is a powerful shaping force and the little 2 soon learned to read what others needed and make themselves helpful.
Type 3: The Performer or Achiever
Type 3 is the archetype of a successful, beautiful person, apparently living into the life dream of doing everything they determine on with clear goals and hard work. Clear-sighted and efficient about the best path to reach the goal, the 3 moves quickly to achieve. Not demonstrative (emotions slow a person down), they have deep fears that motivate them to keep moving forward and up, to present the best version of themselves and keep anything else well hidden. Having lost sight of the knowledge that they are loved and valued for themselves, not for what they do, they suppress the fear that at their core they are nothing. Their emotional filter (passion/vice) is deceit, which is not like lying, but a form of self-deceit. The 3 needs love, as do we all, and they are adept at reading the room and knowing how they have to show up in order to earn the love they feel is available only through their actions. They deceive themselves by believing they are who they present themselves to be. Veracity or truthfulness becomes their super power when they learn to trust in their inherent value as persons and show up as their true self. They then can become the authentic inspiration to others they long to be.
Type 4: The Idealist or Romantic
Type 4 sees what is missing from the ideal. They are able to envision and work towards creating that ideal whether it be in art, or architecture, or some other work. They have an eye for beauty and the sublime. They are comfortable with the mystical and with deep pain, making them people who can sit with those who are grieving. They believe that to be loved they need to be special and unique, not recognizing that by their very existence they are. They have lost touch with the sense of connection with God and feel there is something wrong with them. The emotional filter (passion/vice) of the 4 is envy and they easily fall into comparison against others, finding themselves on the short end of the stick, and lacking in some integral way that would bring wholeness.
Type 5: The Observer or Investigator
Type 5 is knowledgeable, interested in knowing deeply and in knowing many things, is a fount of wisdom beyond mere facts. The 5 can see systems and patterns and is often able to teach these clearly. As a little person the 5 felt they didn’t have what they needed for life, and often felt smothered by the demands of another. As a result they learned that knowledge is preparation and protection. The emotional filter (passion/vice) of the 5 is avarice, which manifests as a need to know deeply so that they will know enough. They hoard knowledge of all sorts, but also finances and emotions. They fear they will be incompetent or lacking and thus will be vulnerable. They also tend to create a distance between themselves and others as a way to defend against intrusion and loss of resources (emotional especially in this case) out of fear of not having enough in reserve.
Type 6: The Loyal Skeptic
Type 6 leads with questions about what’s happening, and an awareness of what could go wrong. This ability to see the things that could go wrong allows them to be calm and quick thinking in a crisis since they have most likely already run through the scenario. They are loyal to the person or organization or beliefs they align with and work for the greater good of the community. They are often friendly and easy to talk with, making connections and building relationships. The emotional filter (passion/vice) of the 6 is fear, although they might not know they are afraid. They might talk about anxiety or worry more than fear. This is the phobic 6- this type of 6 is likely to avoid taking risks, and will build relationships or make decisions that are more likely to assure their safety. The counter-phobic 6, on the other hand, prefers to move towards the source of fear in an attitude of “I’ll get it before it gets me”. This 6 isn’t usually aware they are afraid and often looks like the type 8. 6s might even move between the phobic or counter phobic stance depending on the situation.
Type 7: The Epicure or Enthusiast
Type 7s are full of joy, bringing the fun and adventure to every situation. They are never at a loss for ideas for something to do. When it comes to projects, they tend to be the startup and are able to bring all kinds of disparate ideas together. They are a Pied PIper kind of personality and draw people on with them. The emotional filter (passion/vice) of a 7 is gluttony- always looking for more. The 7 fears being trapped in pain (like boredom, limitations, or grief), so they prefer to have options available- always more fun, more ideas, something new. Anything to prevent feeling bored and trapped. The little 7 felt that nobody would be there to care for their needs and so they decided that to be deprived was painful and their need is for excitement and happiness.
Type 8: The Challenger or Protector
Type 8s are those in a room who emanate being in charge. They are do-ers who are fully engaged with life. They have a heart for justice for the underdog and plenty of energy to move a project forward. 8s say that they don’t know they are getting tired until they crash into a wall. Their turnaround time to getting back up is likely shorter than others. The emotional filter (passion/vice) of an 8 is lust- a demand for everything that life has to offer. They also have easy access to their anger and are not afraid to let it out. They don’t hold on to it though so when the explosion is over so is the anger, and they may be surprised that people around them are hurt or affected for a longer time. They can be hurt by betrayal though, and have a tender heart that is rarely seen. They learned early on to never let themselves be in a vulnerable situation and built strong walls pushing outward into the world. This is their link to caring for the underdog, for the vulnerable unable to speak for themselves.
Type 9: The Mediator or Peacekeeper
Type 9 is a peaceful, calm presence with an ability to see all sides of a situation and to bring harmony. They have a radar for those on the sidelines and work to draw them in. They are careful to make sure everyone has a place at the table and will work diligently for this end. But, the 9 tends to forget that they themselves have a place at the table. They can have a hard time knowing their own desires and agenda. They are prone to merging with the agenda and wishes of someone they are close to and go along to get along. This leads to their emotional filter (passion/vice) of sloth, which is not a laziness but an inattention to their own selves. They fall asleep to themselves and their work is to wake up. The little 9 felt that they were not heard and the hurt and anger from this caused them to withdraw into their own peaceful world where there was no conflict. They are generally unaware of their own anger, which often presents as passive aggressiveness and stubbornness.
Each of these types as described also has a path forward; a virtue on the other side of the shadow. The way to that maturity is found by going through the shadow: facing the pain and what is usually avoided and defended against.