Here's a flyover view of the 9 Enneagram Personality Types. Disclaimer: It's a mix of dense Enneagram terminology and total fluff because I don't want to get too deep too fast if you're brand new to the Enneagram. In this episode, I'll cover each enneagram type's:
-Core Desire
-Core Fear
-Movements of Integration & Disintegration
-Triads
-Spirit Animal
-Spirit Country
-Celebrity Types
Alright, there is some intentionally…playful (or you could say, superficial) content in here that hopefully keeps Enneagramers of all experience levels engaged.
Type 1: The Reformer
Core Desire: to improve themselves and the world around them through morality and wisdom.
Core Fear: that their beliefs are wrong and their morals may actually be hurting themselves and others.
Wings:
1s with a 9 wing are called the "Idealist" as they're more comfortable living in the world of ideas and theories rather than going door-to-door trying to convert folks like their counterpart, the 1 wing 2.
1s with a 2 wing are called the "Advocate" and are far more in-your-face about the changes they seek to make in the world.
Movement of Disintegration: When 1s aren't coping well with stress, they disintegrate to the worst characteristics of Type 4 and start ditching their buttoned-up morality. They get moody and irrational, and sometimes a little promiscuous.
Movement of Disintegration: When 1s are coping well with stress, they integrate the best characteristics of type 7 and become spontaneous, carefree, and all-around good time.
Triad Center: 1s are in the Gut Triad Center - so they struggle to acknowledge or accept their instinctual reactions. They internalized their anger because they feel like anger is morally wrong, and this results in them becoming extremely judgemental as that anger festers into bitterness towards others.
Harmonic Triad: 1s are in the Competency group, so they cope with trauma by rationalizing and raising their moral standards even higher to prevent future pain.
Hornevian Triad: 1s are in the Compliant group, so they ask themselves what the proper way to behave is in every social situation.
Country: Switzerland is the Type 1 country - think clean streets, clear rules, and a love of timeliness - hence the love of nice watches.
Animals: The Hornet and the Barking Dog are Type 1 animals - aggressively attacking anything that seems bad.
Famous Types: Now, I don't know what to make of this, but the Enneagram Institute lists both Martha Stewart and Osama Bin Laden as Famous Type 1s. Yeah. We'll either make the softest bed sheets you've ever felt or commit horrible crimes - or, I guess those are both Martha Stewart.
We also get Confucious, Plato, and some famous first ladies - Michelle Obama and Hilary Clinton RIP.
Type 2: The Helper
Core Desire: To be loved & needed.
Core Fear: To be unwanted or unloved.
Wings:
2s with a 1 wing are called the "Servant" and they are often found working behind-the-scenes to help others improve their lives in some capacity.
2s with a 3 wing are called the "Host" and they feel like their "service to humanity" comes from presenting a skill or creating a space of some kind. They aint nearly as bashful about being in the spotlight or taking credit for things like a 2 wing 1 would be.
Movement of Disintegration: When 2s aren't dealing with stress well, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 8 and get aggressive, bossy, and combative.
Integration: But when 2s are healthy, they intigrate the best characteristics of type 4 and become accepting, warm, and comforting.
Triad Center: 2s are in the Heart Triad Center, so they have problems acknowledging their feelings and they try to extrovert an image that everything is OK - they're doing just fine.
Harmonic Triad: 2s are in the Positive Outlook Group, so they cope by looking on the bright side - because of course "someone is always worse of than you."
Hornevian Triad: 2s are in the Compliant Group, and they look to help whoever is in charge of a given situation - so they may be the ones picking up after everyone at a party even if it's not their party
Country: Italy is the Type 2 country - think Italian moms cooking you your favorite meal whenever you come by and hosting your friends.
Animal: The licking puppy and the donkey are two animals that represent Type 2 - think caring & supportive.
Famous Types: And finally, The enneagram institute lists Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa and Monica Lewinksy as famous Type 2. There's a joke there somewhere but I'm not bold enough to make it.
Type 3: The Achiever
Core Desire: to be seen as capable, excellent and successful.
Core Fear: being worthless - or seen as a failure.
Wings:
3s with a 2 wing are called the "Charmer" and they like cultivating relationships with a wide array of people as a means of feeling valuable.
3s with a 4 wing are called the "Professional" and they tend to choose career prominence over domestic lives with a small family.
Movement of Disintegration: When 3s aren't coping well with stress, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 9 and avoid the world by vegging out with a pint of ice cream, some booze, and/or hours of Netflix.
Movement of Integration: When 3s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of type 6, and lose their need to be seen as the capable one so they become less hyper-active and more supportive.
Triad Center: 3s are in the Heart Triad Center, so they struggle to be aware of their emotions and take on whatever self-image advances their status in life.
Harmonic Triad: 3s are in the Competency Group, so they cope by using their skills to find a shortcut out of trauma.
Hornevian Triad: 3s are in the Assertive Group, so they want to stand out in social settings by wooing each & every person there.
Country: The United States of America is the country that represents Type 3 best - think about the American Dream of having a big house, white picket fence, and 2.5 children.
Animal: The Chameleon and the Peacock.
Famous Types: The Enneagram Institute lists Oprah, Tony Robbins, and Bill Clinton as famous Type 3s.
AND it's is getting really hard to not make these jokes.
Type 4: The Individualist
Core Desire: To have a unique identity and to feel truly seen by others.
Core Fear: That they are not actually special and have no distinct identity.
Wings:
4s with a 3 wing are called the "Aristocrat" and they tend to feel a bit more elitist or sophisticated thanks to their refined taste or unique experiences.
4s with a 5 wing are called the "Bohemian" and are more reclusive and eclectic in their taste. They don't create with an audience in mind, like the the 4 wing 3. They just create to create.
Movement of Disintegration: When 4s are not coping well, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 2 and become overly clingy, needy, and dramatic.
Movement of Integration: When 4s are doing great, they integrate the best characteristics of type 1 and become wise, balanced, and objective.
Triad Center: 4s are in the Heart Triad Center, so they have problems with their internalized emotions and feel shame around their identity.
Harmonic Triad: 4s are in the Reactive Group, so they deal with trauma by looking for a rescuer and playing hard-to-get to keep others chasing after them.
Hornevian Triad: 4s are in the Withdrawn Group, so in social settings they are prone to the ole Irish-Goodbye when they're tapped out.
Country: France is the country that represents Type 4 the best - think smoking a cigarette, sipping a cuppacino and talking about how no one appreciates truly great art.
Animal: Type 4 animals are the Basset Hound and the Dove. Both so sweet and somber.
Famous Types: And the Enneagram Institute lists Johnny Depp, Prince, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Amy Winehouse - basically all the coolest musicians you've ever heard of - AND oddly enough - Anne Frank. You 4s really do love to journal.
Type 5: The Investigator
Core Desire: to comprehend their environment.
Core Fear: to be lost in confusion and incapable of handling life.
Wings:
5s with a 4 wing are called the "Iconoclast" - which I think is the coolest wing name - and they are truly creative loners who look for a more artistic, less scientific field to make their living.
5s with a 6 wing are called the "Problem-Solver" and more technically-minded. They enjoy practical solutions to everyday problems.
Movement of Disintegration: When 5s are stressed out, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 7. They get hyper-active or scattered, and start taking on way too many projects simultaneously.
Movement of Integration: When 5s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of type 8. They come out of their shells to do something truly bold or innovative no matter how much resistance they meet.
Triad Center: 5s are in the Head Triad Center, so they deal with a lot of fear & anxiety as they're mostly concerned about their personal security.
Harmonic Triad: 5s are in the Competency Group, so they will learn new skills or study new information to cope with trauma.
Hornevian Triad 5s are in the Withdrawn Group and are true introverts for the most part. They like having a role to play in social settings (like being a photographer) and if they don't have a role - they'll dip out as soon as their gas tank is close to empty.
Country: Great Britain is the Type 5 country - think about their intellectual skepticism and somewhat gloomy, yet endearing demeanor.
Animal: Type 5 animals are the Owl and the Fox.
Famous Types: And The Enneagram Institute lists Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton, Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King as famous type 5s. So basically the source of all my childhood nightmares. Thanks 5s. You also have every famous inventor as well.
Type 6: The Loyalist
Core Desire: to be supported by strong or committed people and organizations.
Core Fear: essentially fear itself - but to make that more specific - it's usually a fear of having no support, guidance, or protection. 6s are unique in that they come in two distinct groups - the first group runs from their fear into the arms of anyone or anything that will support them, and the second group charges after anything that frightens them. These two groups are known as phobic 6s and counter phobic 6s.
Wings:
6s with a 5 wing are called the "Defender" and love technical, rule-based systems they can use to champion a cause of some kind.
6s with a 7 wing are called the "Buddy" and are far less serious in their career aspirations. They like a nice family, familiar friends, and a good time.
Movement of Disintegration: When 6s are stressed out, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 3s and can become vain, competitive, and deceitful.
Movement of Integration: When 6s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of type 9, and experience a sense of equanimity and acceptance for all people.
Triad Center: 6s are a part of the Head Triad Center, so they can be paralyzed by internal and external pressure to come up with the best way to find security.
Harmonic Triad: 6s are in the Reactive Group, so they cope with trauma by committing themselves to others while expecting others to do the same without smothering them.
Hornevian Triad: 6s are in the Compliant Group, so they just want to fit into whatever social group they're a part of.
Country: Germany is the Type 6 country - think extreme nationalism and a tendency to submit to their authorities no matter how off track they may be.
Animal: Type 6 animals are the Deer, for those phobic 6s, and the Wolf for those counter-phobic 6s.
Famous Types: And the Enneagram Institute lists Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Spike Lee as Famous Type 6s. I would love to see Spike Lee direct those other three in a movie - "Do the White Thing" (kidding)
Type 7: The Enthusiast
Core Desire: to experience as much of life as possible.
Core Fear: to be trapped in pain or discomfort.
Wings:
7s with a 6 wing are called the "Entertainer" and are funny, engaging, and a bit more domestic in their ambitions.
7s with an 8 wing are called the "Realist" and more career-oriented in their adventures. They often prioritize experiences or professional advancement over their relationships.
Movement of Disintegration: When 7s aren't coping well with stress, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of Type 1 and get perfectionistic, controlling and dismissive of other's needs.
Movement of Integration: When 7s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of type 5, and all their scattered interests become laser focused on going deep into one topic or relating to one person.
Triad Center: 7s are in the Head Triad Center, so they deal with their fear and anxiety by constantly changing interests so that their fear of the future is replaced with giddy excitement.
Harmonic Triad: 7s are in the Positive Outlook group, so any deep failure just becomes a "funny story" to tell over dinner.
Hornevian Triad: 7s are in the Assertive Group, so they feel like they need to bring the good time to whatever social setting they're in.
Country: Ireland and Brazil are two countries that represent Type 7 - think about lively beaches and packed bars at 11am. They know how to have a good time, and how to recover from a good time so they can do it all over again.
Animal: The type 7 animal is the monkey.
Famous Types: And the Enneagram Institute lists Robin Williams, Kevin Hart, Jim Carey, and Steven Spielberg as famous Type 7s. So they essentially healed the nightmares that Type 5 gave me as a child.
Type 8: The Challenger
Core Desire: to be in control of their life.
Core Fear: being harmed or controlled by others.
Wings:
8s with a 7 wing are called the "Maverick" - probably tied for first place in coolest wing name. They are true entreprenuers, often finding multiple different ways to make money so they can firmly establish their independence.
8s with a 9 wing are called the "Bear" and they are the epitome of the "strong, silent type." They typically work alone and prefer to sit back an analyze their environment so they can assert themselves in the most practical or strategic way possible.
Movement of Disintegration: When 8s are not healthy, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of Type 5, and get suspicious, defensive, and reclusive.
Movement of Integration: When 8s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of Type 2, and become focused on using their strength to serve or empower others.
Triad Center: 8s are part of the Gut Triad Center, so they extrovert a lot of anger as a means of resisting their environment.
Harmonic Triad: 8s are in the Reactive Group, so they cope with trauma by pushing against others and finding a way to need nothing from anybody.
Hornevian Triad: 8s are in the Assertive Group, so they show up to a social setting and think "Here I am, deal with me."
Country: Spain is the Type 8 country - think of the bravado and intensity of bullfighters.
Animals: The Bull, but also the rattlesnake and the bear aka the 8 with a 9 wing.
Famous Types: And the Enneagram Institute lists Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell, Serena Williams, Saddam Hussein, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Phil as famous Type 8s. And there's no way you didn't have an visceral reaction to one of those names - UNLESS OF COURSE you happen to be a Type 9.
BOOM. Segues for the win!
Type 9: The Peacemaker
Core Desire: to maintain a peaceful equillibrium - both internally and externally.
Core Fear: of losing connection with others and living in an unavoidable tension.
Wings:
9s with an 8 wing are called the "Referee" and are willing to speak up in order to create the peace they want in their environment.
9s with a 1 wing are called the "Dreamer" and are far more prone to getting lost in their imagination and rarely engage in conflict.
Movement of Disintegration: When 9s aren't coping well with stress, they disintegrate into the worst characteristics of type 6 - and get anxious, worried, or panicked about the future.
Movement of Integration: When 9s are healthy, they integrate the best characteristics of type 3, and will sacrifice their inner peace of mind or comfort for the sake of working towards a great accomplishment or goal - typically tied to their career. This is why a lot of 9s do not relate to the stereotype that 9s are lazy.
Triad Center: 9s are a part of the Gut Triad Center, so they deal with a lot of repressed rage that they tend to not even be aware of until they explode.
Harmonic Triad: 9s are a a part of the Positive Outlook Group so they deal with trauma simply by pretending it doesn't exist and going about their everyday life.
Hornevian Triad: 9s are a part of the Withdrawn Group, so while they may stay at the party late into the night, they mentally checked out hours ago and have been imagining what they'll watch on Netflix when they get home.
Country: Sweden & Mexico are Type 9 countries - think about remaining neutral in WW2 or just maintaining a relatively chill attitude 24/7.
Animals: The Elephant and the Dolphin. SO cute ;)
Famous Types: And the Enneagram Institute lists Mr. Rodgers, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Morgan Freeman, and - man I'm getting sleepy just writing these names. Y'all are so sweet & soothing…
Ok! You made it!
Again, that was a very, very basic description bordering on pure stereotyping of each of the 9 enneagram types but I hope you enjoyed it. Keep scrolling through this blog or my YouTube series to take a deeper look at what the Enneagram has to teach you about self-awareness and living your he
althiest life.
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