Enneagram - SHORT DESCRIP­TIONS       

ONE: The rational, idealistic type. Conscientious, with a strong sense of right and wrong. Legal and pedagogi­cal (art of teaching) minded, they are agents of change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Moral and ethical, critical and perfectionistic. Well-organised, orderly, and fastidi­ous, but can also be impersonal, rigid, and emotional­ly constricted. Problems with anger and impatience.

At their best: Wise, discerning, realistic, reliable, self-disciplined, fair, honest, productive, and noble, they can be morally heroic.

At their worst: Judgmental, dogmatic, critical, control­ling, inflexible, jealous and anxious, they can be a pain in the neck.

 

TWO: The caring, nurturing type. Empathetic, sincere and warm-hearted. People-oriented, friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and intrusive. Possessive of others, doing things in order to be needed, they have hidden agendas and ulterior motives. Proud and self-deceptive, they can feel unappreciated and victimised, becoming manipulative and controlling.

At their best: Unselfish, altruistic, adaptable, enthusiastic, tuned in to how people feel, they can have unconditional love for others.

At their worst: Martyrlike, possessive, manipulative, indirect, overly accommodat­ing, overly demonstrative, hysterical, they can be too intrusive.

 

 

THREE: The adaptable, success-oriented type. Self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious and energetic, but can also be too competitive and driven. Image-conscious and overly concerned about what others think of them. Pragmatic chameleons, calculating, saying and doing whatever "works" for them. Seeking attention and admiration, they can be arrogant opportunistic.

At their best: Self-accepting, self-propelled, authentic, confi­dent, efficient, practical, industrious, everything they seem to be role-models who inspire others.

At their worst: Deceptive, narcissistic, pretentious, superficial, overly competitive, they can substitute efficiency and accomplish­ments for personal and relational growth.

 

FOUR: The intuitive, reserved type. Self-aware, sensitive, introspective, and gentle. Individualistic, expressive, and personal, but can also be too moody and self-conscious. They dwell in their fantasies, feeling different, melancholy, and exempt from ordinary ways of living. Become impractical, self-indulgent, and self-pitying; problems with self-inhibition.

At their best: Warm, refined, supportive, expressive, inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

At their worst: Depressed, guilt-ridden, moralistic, stubborn, withdrawn, self-absorbed, they can withdraw into their world of fantasy and imagination.

 

 

FIVE: The perceptive, cerebral type. Alert, insightful, and curious. Able to concentrate and understand complex ideas. Independent, innova­tive, and inventive, but can also be too preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs. They become detached, yet high-strung and intense. Awkward and isolated, they lack interperson­al skills, and can be cynical and eccentric.

At their best: Analytical, persevering, wise, self-contained, objective, visionary pioneers, ahead of their time, they are able to see the world in an entirely new way.

At their worst: Intellectually arrogant, stingy, stubborn, distant, critical, unassertive, they tend to live in the world of ideas and concepts, forgetting that interaction and experience are necessary for real understanding.

 

SIX: The committed, security-oriented type. Endearing and likeable, forming strong bonds with others. Reliable, responsible, and trustworthy, but can also be too partisan and suspicious of others, creating "in" and "out" groups. Defensive, contradictory, evasive, and anxious: they run on stress while complaining about it. Cautious and indecisive, but also defiant and rebellious, talking "tough" and scapegoating others.

At their best: Open-minded, stable, loyal, likeable, helpful, warm & caring, obedient, responsible, courageously supporting the weak and powerless, they are fiercely committed and loyal to family/com­munity.

At their worst: Hyper-vigilant, unpredictable, self-defeating, rigid, judgmental, they can be controlling and con­trolled by fear, insecure, defensive and mistrustful of others .

 

SEVEN: The enthusiastic, joyful type. Extroverted, optimistic, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, practical, and accomplished, but can also be over-extended, superficial, and undisciplined. Acquisitive, seeking constant stimulation, they distract themselves by staying on the go. Uninhibited, excessive, and self-centred. Can be infantile, demanding, and insensitive to others.

At their best: Fun-loving, imaginative, confident, charming, curious, productive, they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative and joyous.

At their worst: Narcissistic, impulsive, unfocussed, restless, rebellious, self-destructive, they tend to be ungrounded, dissipat­ed, lost in plans and fantasies.

 

EIGHT: The powerful, assertive type. Self-confident, strong, authoritati­ve. Protective, resourceful, straight-talking and decisive, but can also be proud and domineering. Feel they must control their environment, becoming confrontational and intimidat­ing: everything is a contest of wills and they seldom back down. Can become hard-hearted and openly belligerent. Can become impatient and restless with others' incompetence.

At their best: Self-mastering, direct, energetic, earthy, loyal, they use their strength to improve others' lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and great.

At their worst: Controlling, rebellious, insensitive, self-centred, sceptical, avenging, aggressive, they can become megalomaniac and scare people away by their bluntness or bullying.

 

NINE: The easy-going, accommodating type. Accepting, trusting, and stable. Good-natured, optimistic, straight-forward, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. Want things to be smooth and easy: tend to be complacent, to simplify problems and to minimise anything upsetting. Creatures of habit, they can be passive and unwilling to change. Stubborn, inattentive, and neglectful.

At their best: Indomitable, and all-embracing, pleasant, peaceful, patient, receptive, diplomatic, open-minded, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.

At their worst: Forgetful, passive-aggressive, judgmental, unassertive, apathetic, they can become placid, unsure of what they want, too sensitive to criticism or not being taken seriously and retire early from life.