The Enneagram

[joreth]

I haven't done much studying of the Enneagram personality types, but the results I've seen on myself seem to be consistent for what I've noticed for Meyers-Briggs and Love Languages ... that I exhibit nearly equal levels of more than one category. *sigh*

The Enneagram Type Indicator Sampler Results (RHETI Version 2.0)

Questionnaire Date: 5/8/2007 11:51:12 AM

The following numerical scores are calculated from your answers to the Sampler questionnaire. The highest score in any type is 8.

Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Type 7 Type 8 Type 9 7 1 5 3 7 4 2 7 2

These same results reported in a histogram.

Type 1 * * * * * * * Type 2 * Type 3 * * * * * Type 4 * * * Type 5 * * * * * * * Type 6 * * * * Type 7 * * Type 8 * * * * * * * Type 9 * *

Brief descriptions are provided below.

Notes on the Results Your highest score was a tie between Type 1, Type 5, and Type 8. One of these is likely your Enneagram type. You answered 36 questions out of 36. This is what your type appears to be given the number of questions answered.

Brief Type Descriptions Detailed 2,800+ word reports for all types (with new material on relationships, the Instincts, personal growth, and more) are provided with the full Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator.

Type One The Reformer The principled, idealistic type. Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic. Type Two The Helper The caring, interpersonal type. Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous, and self- sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others. Type Three The Achiever The adaptable, success-oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best:: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be—role models who inspire others. Type Four The Individualist The introspective, romantic type. Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self- indulgence, and self-pity. At their Best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences. Type Five The Investigator The perceptive, cerebral type. Fives are alert, insightful, and curious. They are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills. Independent, innovative, and inventive, they can also become preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs. They become detached, yet high-strung and intense. They typically have problems with eccentricity, nihilism, and isolation. At their Best: visionary pioneers, often ahead of their time, and able to see the world in an entirely new way. Type Six The Loyalist The committed, security-oriented type. Sixes are reliable, hard-working, responsible, and trustworthy. Excellent "troubleshooters," they foresee problems and foster cooperation, but can also become defensive, evasive, and anxious—running on stress while complaining about it. They can be cautious and indecisive, but also reactive, defiant and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion. At their Best: internally stable and self-reliant, courageously championing themselves and others. Type Seven The Enthusiast The busy, productive type. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied. Type Eight The Challenger The powerful, aggressive type. Eights are self-confident, strong, and assertive. Protective, resourceful, straight-talking, and decisive, but can also be ego-centric and domineering. Eights feel they must control their environment, especially people, sometimes becoming confrontational and intimidating. Eights typically have problems with their tempers and with allowing themselves to be vulnerable. At their Best: self-mastering, they use their strength to improve others' lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and inspiring. Type Nine The Peacemaker The easy-going, self-effacing type. Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness. At their Best: indomitable and all-embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.

One of the major selling points for the Enneagram (IMO) is its descriptions of unhealthy people. MBTI doesn't really spend much time discussing the range from healthy to unhealthy ways of expressing their traits, although I feel they are one of the most accurate typing systems around. Anyone who knows me has often heard the phrase "Dysfunctional NFs", which is a catch-phrase I developed after dating a long string of people who happen to be NF, none of whom had a handle on either their emotions or how to deal with my seeming-lack of emotion. The Functional NFs I've been meeting lately are doing their best to prove to me that NFs have healthy versions too. After reading the "long descriptions", I've decided that a tie between 1, 5 and 8 is fairly accurate because they are broken up into "levels" and I am able to pinpoint what "level" of mental and emotional health I am with respect to each category (for descriptions of each, go to http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/TypeOne.asp and just change the number portion of the URL to whatever number category you want to view). For simplicity's sake, Levels 1-3 are all "Healthy", Levels 4-6 are all "Average", and Levels 7-9 are "Unhealthy". I believe I am between Level 3 & 4 in category One, between Level 3 & 4 in category Five, and I think I am currently a level 4 in Category 8 but I have definately visited level 5 on occasion ... usually when I get irritated that others are not carrying their own weight or are doing a poor job of leading (a typical behaviour for INTJs). I don't think I will ever approach level 3 of category 8, because that calls for "natural leadership" and as an INTJ, I tend to only take over leadership when no one else is capable of it, even though I have been described as a "natural leader" when forced into that position.

There's also a bit more specific typing that has to do with "wings" that I didn't see on this websitei and I haven't quite grasped all the implications of yet. Something like "Type 5 Wing 6" or "Type 1 Wing 9". I'm also exhausted so I'm not going to do any more research at this time.

So yeah, another chapter in my "Manual For Understanding Me".