The Enneagram

The history of the Enneagram is shrouded in the mists of time. The symbol was ancient by the time Pythagoras discovered it. In modern times it has been developed more as a personality typing tool although it is still used as a process tool as well.

N.B. It is really important to remember that The Enneagram concerns itself predominantly with motivation and that it we cannot type others based solely on their behaviours. Some types exhibit similar behaviours to others but for very different reasons.

Your type also gives you reasons for your behaviours but this should not be used as an excuse for unreasonable behaviours.

Heart, Head, Gut

At the centre of the Enneagram are the three triads of Heart, Head & Gut and each of them has a different emphasis.

People whose personality formed around the Heart triad had issues over the amount of Attention they received during childhood.

People whose personality formed around the Head triad had issues around Security when they were growing up.

People whose personality formed around the Gut triad had issues around the amount of Autonomy they had when they were children.

Demanding, Earning, Withdrawing.

Within each triad there are three types, one who demanded, one who earned, and one who withdrew, to resolve the issue.

The Nine Types 

This gives us the nine different types:

2s Earning their Attention
3s Demanding their Attention
4s Withdrawing to get their Attention
5s Withdrawing to get their Security
6s Earning their Security
7s Demanding their Security
8s Demanding their Autonomy
9s Withdrawing to get their Autonomy
1s Earning their Autonomy

The Nine Enneatypes 

Ones have an internal model of how things are and should be. They have a need to make sure that things in the external world are as they should be and can become resentful and angry with themselves when the world (and themselves) is not as perfect as it ought to be. They usually deny this anger in themselves and genuinely seem surprised when we notice it.
Ones are society’s lawgivers and bring order to the world for the rest of us.

Twos often feel as though they exist to meet other people’s needs. They pride themselves on being needed by others, which actually hides their own needs and this can create dependence. They are not aware of their own needs and seem genuinely surprised when asked what they need; they usually respond and tell us what they want instead.
Twos are society’s carers and look after the rest of us.

Threes are usually chameleon-like, adapting themselves to whatever image they believe others want them to become. They are go-getters, focussed on success. They sometimes cut corners, deceiving themselves about their true skills, abilities and identity in the process.
Threes are society’s motivators and bring boundless energies to the world.

Fours are usually very creative and know that they are unique. They tend to focus on what is missing in life and to be envious of what others have. They dislike crudeness and vulgarity in any form and often believe that they have immaculate taste.
Fours are society’s artists and bring beauty and authenticity to the world.

Fives are the great information gatherers of the Enneagram. They can appear distant and detached from the world, inhabiting the inner world of their own mind for most of the time.
Fives bring wisdom to the world.

Sixes have a great sense of duty and responsibility. They can seem fearful and often have a lot of nervous energy, noticing where there is potential danger.
Sixes are society’s protectors and bring security to the world.

Sevens have a great sense of fun, planning for the future with eternal optimism. They dislike being pinned down to the present, can become easily bored and are constantly searching for the next project.
Sevens are society’s bon viveurs and bring spontaneity to the world.

Eights have a need to be strong and in control of themselves and others. They look for strength in others and respect it. They look down on weakness in others. Much of what they are trying to control is beyond their ability to do so and they often appear angry with the world.
Eights are society’s bosses and bring a passion for life to the world.

Nines are able to see multiple points of view making them excellent arbitrators and negotiators. They can have a stubborn streak and put their feet down when pushed too far.
Nines are society’s mediators and bring a sense of balance and calm to the world