Enneagram - Nine Personality Types

The Enneagram System

The Enneagram is a powerful personality typing system that describes nine distinct personality types, each driven by a core motivation and underlying fear. Unlike other systems that focus on behavior, the Enneagram delves into the “why” behind our actions.

What is the Enneagram?

The Enneagram (from the Greek words “ennea” meaning nine and “gramma” meaning drawing) is an ancient symbol that maps out nine fundamental personality types and their complex interrelationships.

Core Components

Each Enneagram type has:

• Core Motivation: What drives you at the deepest level
• Basic Fear: What you’re trying to avoid
• Basic Desire: What you’re seeking
• Key Characteristics: Patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving

The Nine Types

Body/Gut Types (8, 9, 1)

• Type 8 - The Challenger: Powerful, dominating, self-confident, decisive, willful, confrontational
• Type 9 - The Peacemaker: Easygoing, self-effacing, receptive, reassuring, agreeable, complacent
• Type 1 - The Perfectionist: Rational, idealistic, principled, purposeful, self-controlled, perfectionistic

Heart/Feeling Types (2, 3, 4)

• Type 2 - The Helper: Caring, interpersonal, demonstrative, generous, people-pleasing, possessive
• Type 3 - The Achiever: Success-oriented, pragmatic, driven, adaptable, ambitious, image-conscious
• Type 4 - The Individualist: Sensitive, withdrawn, expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, temperamental

Head/Thinking Types (5, 6, 7)

• Type 5 - The Investigator: Intense, cerebral, perceptive, innovative, secretive, isolated
• Type 6 - The Loyalist: Committed, security-oriented, engaging, responsible, anxious, suspicious
• Type 7 - The Enthusiast: Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, scattered, distractible, undisciplined

Understanding Your Type

The Enneagram is not just about identifying your type but understanding:

• How your type manifests under stress
• Your path to growth and integration
• How you relate to others
• Your unconscious patterns and habits

Growth and Development

Each type has:

• Direction of Integration: How you grow and become healthier
• Direction of Disintegration: How you behave under stress
• Wings: The types on either side that influence your core type
• Instinctual Variants: Self-preservation, social, and sexual/one-to-one

---

Ready to dive deeper? Explore individual type pages to understand the rich complexity of each Enneagram type and discover insights for personal growth.