Introduction to the Enneagram
At first glance, the Enneagram may seem overly complex and difficult to comprehend. However, the various components and inner-workings of the framework makes for more comprehensive typology while eliminating inflexibility. On this page, you will find an explanation of each component of the Enneagram System, a summary of its history, a review of its basis and application, and an overview of empirical research into the Enneagram. On the next page, "Enneagram Types", you'll find an explanation of each personality type and its qualities.
For an explanation on the process of discovering and understanding your own Enneagram typology, as well as links to useful assessments and resources, see the "How to Discover Your Type" tab.
– How the System Works –
The Enneagram with Rico-Hudson (RHETI) type names, enneagraminstitute.com
The Enneagram System is a complex, elaborate approach to personality centered around nine distinct personality types (known by both number and name): type 1, the reformer; type 2, the helper; type 3, the achiever; type 4, the individualist; type 5, the investigator; type 6, the loyalist; type 7, the enthusiast; type 8, the challenger; and type 9, the peacemaker. The aim of this system is to underscore the unique motivations behind each type’s behaviors and tendencies and to provide a tool that promotes emotional intelligence and increases self-awareness through self-reflection. (Sutton, 2012)
The Enneagram has many nuances that allow for flexibility, which is desirable in a personality assessment so not to restrict individuals to a single, rigid category. While the goal is to provide individuals with a specific typing so to facilitate introspection and self-understanding, it's common for us to find a bit of ourselves in multiple Enneagram types––no one is a single, "pure" type. Rather, Enneagram theory holds that our personality type is influenced by all of our connected types. However, each individual will have a core, central type that should illuminate common behaviors, causes of stress and discomfort, and basic desires and motivations. Below, you'll find a description of each of the different components of Enneagram typology.
Triads and Type Classification
A core function of the Enneagram is the grouping and categorization of the types, with each grouped into one of three triads: the “heart” or “feeling” triad, consisting of personality types 2, 3, and 4; the “head” or “thinking” triad, with types 5, 6, and 7; and the “gut” or “instinctive"/"reactive” triad, with types 8, 9, and 1.
The triads are particularly useful in understanding each type's intrinsic motivations and desires. Placement in a triad outlines fundamental psychological orientations and describes whether a type's orientation relates to feelings and self-image, thought processes and a search for security, or gut instincts and ways one interacts with their outer world, with regard to the feeling, thinking, and reactive triads respectively.
(Tapp & Engebretson, 2010)
Connected Types: Wings and Stress/Security Types
Connected and Non-Connected Types
Each of the nine Enneagram types has four "connected types". These are the two wings, the stress type, and the security type associated with one's core type. According to Enneagram theory, we are influenced by all of our connected types. Below, you will find a thorough explanation of what these types are, how they are found, and how they affect our "core" personality.
Non-connected types, known as mistypes, are another thing to pay attention to. These are the types that one of a given type may mistakenly identify with. If you're torn between a couple of types, Eclectic Energies has an explanation of common mistypes at the bottom of each type description.
Wings
The concept of a "wing" is often the most daunting or perplexing for Enneagram-learners, but it's actually quite simple. One of the most prominent ways the Enneagram combats rigidity is by allotting each type two potential wings. These are the two personality types adjacent to each individual type. For example, type 1 has the potential wings of 9 and 2 (see image above for reference). Displayed as 1w9 and 1w2 respectively, in this example, the 1 represents an individual's "core" type with w9 or w2 representing a supplemental type. Sometimes we'll identify strongly with one wing, other times we may not find much of ourselves in either wing or we see a bit of ourselves in each––everyone will experience their typology differently. Enneagram theory holds that we're influenced by one or both of our wings. This aspect of the Enneagram serves to offer a more holistic approach to personality.
(Daniels & Price, 2009)
Stress and Security Types
Another function of the Enneagram is the assignment of stress and security points. Indicated by the arrangement of the types around the Enneagram symbol (see image above for reference), each type corresponds with two other types which represent a stress-induced mindset and a represents a security-based mindset. For example, when stressed a type 8 will exhibit qualities of a 5. But when feeling secure and self-actualized, a type 8 will exhibit qualities of a 2. Each type's stress and security points can be located through the interconnecting lines in the Enneagram figure. You will see that type 8 has one line that pairs with type 2 and another that pairs with type 5.
While this is an emphasized function of the Enneagram, research has yet to indicate signs of validity. However, further research into this aspect must be done. For more information and useful insight into related research, see Sutton's (2012) "But is it real? A review of research on enneagram".
Variants
Each individual may find themselves in one of three subcategories: sexual, social, or self-preservation. This isn't connected to one's particular Enneagram type. Rather, these are considered three instinctual "variants".
People of the self-preservation variant generally aim to be comfortable and independent. Less interested spontaneity and interpersonal contact, their well-being is very important to them causing them to pay great attention to their health, house, and finances. They are less interested in interpersonal contact, and are typically less spontaneous and don't show as much emotion as people of the other two subtypes of their enneagram type.
Those of the sexual variant are much more interested in one-on-one contacts. They seek intimacy, often shown through sexuality, and relationships. Not so concerns with conflict, rules, or responsibility, they are the most passionate of the subtypes being temperamental and having more energy.
People of the social variant prefer to be in groups or teams. They are more interested in their position or status in a group than the other subtypes and have a desire to be accepted, causing them to make themselves palatable so that they'll fit in.
Historical Background
The Enneagram’s exact origin has its discrepancies, but the modern interpretation of the Enneagram leading to its popularization stems from Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo, a Bolivian psychiatrist and Chilean psychologist respectively . The enneagram symbol, a nine-pointed star within a circle for which the Enneagram is named, is recognized to have first been created by famous Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. However, the individual credited with bringing the enneagram figure to the west is an eccentric Greek-Armenian philosopher named George Gurdjieff. This would lead to Ichazo’s founding a “human potential” program called the Arica training, named after a Chilean city. With regard to the structure and use of the Enneagram, Ichazo and Naranjo’s ideas are closely related to Gurdjieff’s thought. With a more Freudian-esque approach, Ichazo’s personality theory is based on the idea that people have turned away from the essence into which they were born and their compulsive ego type caused people to fall asleep to their spirituality. However, the more common, mainstream Enneagram teachings do not resemble Ichazo’s spiritual conception of the Enneagram and have come to be based more on personality theory and psychology.
(Mitchell Pacwa & America, 1991)
Intent and Application
The Enneagram places a big emphasis on the promotion of emotional intelligence and self-understanding. In contrast to the typical focus of personality assessments on symptomology as it relates to neurotic and psychotic functioning, the Enneagram provides a continuum of development for each personality type while encompassing both dysfunctional and pathological levels as well as average and high levels of functioning and integration. Accordingly, the Enneagram is an effective tool for developing self-awareness and aiding individuals in progressing forward to lead richer, fuller lives.
Another great benefit of the Enneagram is its capacity for helping us to understand each other by highlighting different perspectives. For example, it may be useful for a type 2, a thinking type who's more inwardly focused and needs time to process and think, to understand the way a type 8, a reactive type who is bold can come across as blunt and domineering, thinks and behaves. Conversely, it may benefit a type 8 to check their straight-forward ways and become more sensitive to the other's approach.
On a larger scale, the Enneagram also has implications for workplace use. Research has found clear and theoretically-justified relationships between Enneagram type and work attitudes/outcomes such as job satisfaction, enthusiasm, and even type of occupation. Exit questionnaires after a short Enneagram workshop (4 hours) found that participants reported feelings of improved understanding of themselves and increased confidence, a greater appreciation for diversity, and improved communication with colleagues.
Given its capacity for promoting self-reflection and self-understanding, the Enneagram certainly has a wide variety of applications.
(Tapp & Engebretson, 2010) (Sutton, 2012)
Research, Findings, and Common Critiques
Research and Findings:
In a review of existing Enneagram research, Anna Sutton outlines a handful of significant findings in her publication "But is it real? A review of research on enneagram" (cited under "Resources and References"). Below is a brief summary of research into the Enneagram System:
Studies have found statistically significant differences between each of the nine types based on the Big Five personality traits, signaling that the Enneagram captures distinct personality types
Research has shown that it is possible to correctly classify individual typology 70-75% of the time (Brown and Bartram, 2005) and that an individual's Enneagram type remains consistent over time 85% of the time, indicating reliability (Sutton, 2012)
When receiving 40-50 hours of Enneagram Intensive training experienced advancement in ego development (defined as a combination of how people perceive themselves and others, interpersonal interactions, people’s frame of reference, and moral judgement [Murra, 1997]), suggesting that Enneagram trainings may be beneficial for promoting psychological growth and ego development (Daniels, Saracino, Fraley, & Pardo, 2018)
Critiques and Criticisms:
Despite generally promising findings on its validity and reliability, the Enneagram has long been subject to an array of criticisms. Some personality psychologists and scholars dismiss the Enneagram as pseudoscientific. Most commonly, it's said that the Enneagram lacks any credibility, validity, or reliability. Other critics say that the framework is so vague and malleable that it can't even be tested or that anything could be made to fit into the framework. However these assertions are frankly untrue. Not only has the Enneagram been tested, but research has shown yielded generally positive results as outlined above.
While any personality framework should welcome criticism and skepticism, such critiques should be made after a review of existing Enneagram research. Many criticisms address alternative, distorted, or otherwise perverted Enneagram practices, rather than common Enneagram teachings and practice. For example, some criticisms regard more spiritually-based practices of the Enneagram, such as specific teachings that involve chakras and the use of Reiki, or that correlate aspects of the Enneagram with those of Christian faith. But it should be noted that the Enneagram as we know it today does not invoke spirituality of any kind nor principles of energy medicine.
While many Enneagram related concerns are warranted from a scientific perspective, skeptics should distinguish alternative Enneagram practices and other such understandings from Enneagram theory itself. Just as it's wrong to purport that the Enneagram is infallible or nearly 100% accurate, it’s wrong to say that the Enneagram is completely unreliable without the research to support such a claim. Ultimately, the Enneagram has shown that it's far more valid and reliable than it gets credit for.
(Thyer & Pignotti, 2015) (Carroll, 2003)