I don’t know about you, but I am a huge fan of personality tests. I think they are fun to take, and they help me to gain a deeper understanding of who I am as a person. One of my favorite personality tests is the Enneagram. According to ondemandcounseling.com, it was originally created in 1915 by a philosopher by the name of George Gurdjieff. It was not until the late 1960s that the nine specific types were placed into the circular Enneagram diagram that most are familiar with. The overall goal of the Enneagram is to use it as a human development system to include in modern psychology.
Truity.com is another excellent resource to learn about it. Molly Owens, a psychologist, defines the Enneagram as “a system of personality which describes people in terms of nine types, each with their own motivations, fears, and internal dynamics.” The nine types are divided among Heart Types, Head Types, and Body Types.
Heart types react with emotions first and make sense of the world through their feelings. Head types react with analysis and make sense of the world through systems and theories. Finally, body types react with gut feelings and understand the world through their body’s reactions to situations.
Let me walk you through the nine types to give you a brief overview of each one:
type one – the reformer
This type is also called The Perfectionist. They are a body type, and they are ethical in nature. They have a strong sense of what is right and wrong. They are the ones always trying to improve things and uphold high standards. They are the moral hero. Their shortcomings are that they can fall into being self-critical and perfectionistic from having high expectations on themselves. Their basic desire is to be good and balanced.
type two – the helper
People with this type crave to be loved and needed. They make amazing friends and partners because they are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are driven to be close to others and put their worth in helping others. Enneagram Institute puts it this way; “Being generous and going out of their way for others makes Twos feel that theirs is the richest, most meaningful way to live.” They can fall into the bad habit of putting others’ needs above their own.
type three – the achiever
This type is ambitious and highly driven for advancement. They can become overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. People often look up to them because of their graciousness and personal accomplishments. They are great motivators and want to contribute their abilities to the world. They hold a basic desire to be valuable and worthwhile in whatever they put their best efforts into.
type four – the individualist
Type Fours want to be unique from others, and they experience emotions very deeply. Sometimes they struggle with the idea that no one can understand or love them. They are honest with themselves and want to understand the truth of their experience. They are often sensitive and reserved. Their basic desire is to find themselves and their significance in order to create an identity.
type five – the investigator
Fives are very analytical, and they seek understanding and knowledge. They are insightful, alert, and curious. At their best, they are visionary pioneers who are able to see the world in an entirely new way. Their drive is to find out why things are the way they are. They are always asking questions and pursuing the answers to them. Their basic desire is to be capable and competent.
type six – the loyalist
This type is often called The Skeptic as well. Sixes are preoccupied with security, safety, and how to best prepare for problems. They are reliable, hard-working, and responsible. They can struggle with self-doubt and suspicion. This type is the most loyal to their friends and beliefs. They will fight for their beliefs more fiercely than for themselves. They have a basic fear of being abandoned and left without support.
type seven – the enthusiast
Sevens are the adventure seekers. They want to have fun and are easily bored. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, and spontaneous. They pursue what they want in life with cheerful determination. They are the type that can instantly brighten your day and bring excitement to the situation. They favor activities that stimulate their minds. Their basic desire is to be satisfied and content, having all of their needs fulfilled.
type eight – the challenger
Eights see themselves as powerful and will stand up for what they believe in. They are self-confident, strong, and assertive. They want to use their strength to improve the lives of others and be inspiring. They can often struggle with their tempers. They seek ways to challenge themselves, hence the name “The Challenger.” They strive to “leave their mark.” Their basic desire is to protect themselves and be in control of their own destiny.
type nine – the peacemaker
Nines pursue internal and external peace for themselves and others. They are very spiritual and trusting. They do not like conflict, therefore, they try their best to bring people together and heal from conflict. They have fears of loss and separation. They let those around them make the decisions as they go with the flow. Think of Nines as the skilled mediators or counsellors in their group of friends.
In addition to each Enneagram Type, there are wings for each one. I am a Two, therefore my motivations are always rooted in helping others around me and making them feel loved. Taking the test allowed me to understand my qualities and how I see the world around me. You can also research how your Type affects your relationships in your life. I highly recommend taking the test to see which Types rank the highest for you. I took the test from truity.com. Click here to find out your Type!
Have fun finding out your Type and researching it!
HCXO,
Rachel
References:
The nine enneagram type descriptions. The Enneagram Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions.
On Demand Counseling. (2021, March 29). 3 basic need-to-know facts about the enneagram. On Demand Counseling Services. Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://ondemandcounseling.com/blog/enneagram/.
Owens, M. (2021, October 25). The enneagram personality test. Truity. Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test.
Owens, M. (2021, November 5). What are the nine enneagram types? Truity. Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.truity.com/enneagram/9-types-enneagram.