Enneagram Personality Type Profiles

For those who have taken an Online Profile these are short biographies of the 9 different personality types.

If the short personality profile has revealed a few types into which you might fall, have a read below and see if you can discern which one might be the closest fit. If that doesn't help why not consider purchasing the more Advanced Personality Profile or attending one of our workshops.

Alternatively purchase one of the many good books to explain the system and personality types in more detail?

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    Type 1 – Perfectionist

 I am self reliant, highly responsible and hard working. Administration and organisation are two of my main strengths as I can see what is wrong and what needs to be done to put it right. I place high emphasis on integrity and maintain high standards.

I find I am critical of myself mostly, but also critical of others, although I rarely say so. My anger comes out as irritation or annoyance and I experience a tension in trying to keep it contained. I worry a lot about ‘getting it right’ - I am always striving for perfection and I feel guilty when I don’t measure up.

Although I enjoy pleasure, there never seems enough time to get to it (my life seems full of ‘I should do this and I ought to do that’) and I feel resentful of those who don’t follow the rules and get away with it.

I sometimes notice myself making comparisons between myself and others. I can also become rigid and over controlling and I repress many of my own desires and impulses. It’s also difficult for me to be spontaneous.

My stress is usually in the form of anxiety and worry, usually because my internal critic won’t shut up. I feel overburdened by my conscientiousness and the amount of things that need to be put right. I also find others blame very painful, and their failure to take responsibility is distressing.

  Type 2 – Helper

 At my best, I am warm, enthusiastic and energetic, and I am generous with my time and material goods. I empathise easily with other people’s feelings and needs and I have the ability to show aspects of myself that will be most appealing to them (I’m quite proud of that). In ‘one to one’ relationships I can be romantic and expressive.

Unfortunately, I can become too giving and get trapped by being indispensable to too many people. I unconsciously manipulate in order to get people to respond to me ( I give and expect to get back ) and I get highly emotional and accusatory if I feel neglected - there is often a confusion in my own mind about what my own needs really are.

I long to be free of all this doing and hate being controlled by others needs or feeling dependent on them.

Good relationships are important to me and I work hard to make them happen.

   Type 3 – Achiever

 I am an enthusiastic personable team leader who is self assured. I am practical, efficient, competent and good at motivating people.

My life seems like a series of tasks, even my leisure time becomes a task to complete. I like the appreciation and status I get from doing well and I identify myself with my success. I compete hard to win, although I am an excellent team member if it helps to get the job done. Failure is difficult for me but even in failure I manage to put a positive spin on it and then move on.

My image is important to me and I find I can adapt my image to look good according to whoever I’m with. My image must include the material benefits that go with the job.

My feelings tend to get in the way of getting the job done, so I push them aside until I’ve finished. Unfortunately, there seems so much to do that I rarely get time for reflection or my real feelings. I can however give a good demonstration of appropriate feelings if the situation calls for it.

I hate incompetence, indecision, inefficiency or criticism, and I get angry at anyone or anything that gets in the way of me meeting my goals or targets.

   Type 4 – Creative Thinker

 I am a warm person with a different view of life, with an empathy especially to people who are suffering. I am sensitive and creative, maybe even romantic and artistic. I have a huge depth of feeling which helps me to be authentic and introspective. I am a passionate, romantic idealist.

My attention seems to focus on longing for what’s missing in my life as I need to find an ideal love or perfect circumstance which will make me complete in the future - it is difficult to live in the ‘here and now’ which seems so mundane. For me, feelings are what is real in life, especially melancholy. I can wallow in them.

I seem to have an enormous basket of complex emotions which can lead me to bouts of depression. It’s funny but I look at other people’s happiness and feel envy - this envy can lead me to shame or alternatively, I can become really competitive.

My anger can express itself as fiery outbursts, tears or depression. What makes me angry are people who in some way abandon me, or I feel misunderstand me. I hate people who are not authentic or people who try to change me.

  Type 5 – Quiet Observer

 My attention goes to watching and observing before I involve or participate - I prefer to think about it rather than do it. I’m not good at small talk but I can more than hold my own on any of the many subjects that I am knowledgeable about.

I like my own privacy (I can even be secretive) and find uninvited intrusion difficult - it seems to drain my energy. My delight is in intellectual things, scholarliness and knowledge for its own sake.

Some people may think of me as a minimalist as I can get by with very little, although I find myself hoarding the essentials I do need (especially knowledge/information). In fact, I prefer a simple un-encumbered life style.

When it comes to my social life, I like to know in advance what’s expected of me and plan in my mind how it will go. After the event, I un-pack and re-live the interaction and the emotions which I had detached from at the time.

Although I have been accused of being aloof, I am actually just thoughtful, dependable and respectful.

I avoid strong feelings especially my fear and my feelings of inadequacy and emptiness. I get angry when people consider my facts are wrong. I hate too many demands and intrusions and find it difficult if I do not have sufficient time alone to recharge my batteries.

   Type 6 – Loyal Sceptic

 I am warm, loyal and trustworthy, clear thinking in a crisis, with a good sense of humour. I can be persevering , responsible and protective. Intuition is one of my strengths.

Unfortunately, I find this world a threatening place and my attention goes to scanning for potential harm and being vigilant to danger. Often I am not aware of my fear but I still find I withdraw from threat or alternatively I meet it head on.

I often perceive authority to be abusive. I feel drawn to the security of authority but at the same time I am rebellious - hence I often support under-dog causes. I withdraw from my own success because the spotlight makes me vulnerable to criticism or attack - hence I procrastinate or sabotage by not finishing.

Doubts about myself and others abound and I find myself suspicious of other’s motives and intentions. I have a great “bull-s--t” detector. I tend towards anything that gives security or certainty. My energy is drained by my constant efforts to deal with insecurity and with  ambivalence towards authority.

I get really angry if someone is untrustworthy or they betray me. My anger comes out when I feel cornered or controlled, or when my relationship with another  is overpowering or demands too much. I need them to respond to me.

My defence can be wit or sarcasm. I can be accusatory and biting in my responses. Sometimes I just lash out.

  Type 7 – Optimist

I am a playful, optimistic and enthusiastic person - life is an adventure. I love life to be stimulating and up-beat. I have great vision for things and I am helpful and highly imaginative.

Much of my life is lived in my mind as I imagine positive, future possibilities (fantasy if you like) - my options seem endless. In fact planning can be more enjoyable than the doing of it. I hate confrontation and use my charm to disarm difficult situations. My life seems privileged and I work to keep it that way.

My attention focuses on what is interesting, pleasurable or just fascinating  whether it is in the mind, in relationships or other more concrete experiences.

I hate to have my options limited; I hate being frustrated or bored, and I put a positive spin on almost everything especially to avoid a painful situation or feeling.

Stress is caused by over booking myself by taking on too many pleasures. I repeat the cycle endlessly to avoid anything painful (pleasure is my form of anaesthetic). Commitments can also cause me stress through feeling trapped by them. I prefer to equalise authority - no one is in authority over me nor am I responsible for anyone else.

My anger is triggered by people who try to put limits on me. People who are depressed, unhappy or stuck also make me angry. But my anger is brief and to the point.

I can be a creative networker, synthesiser or theoretician.

   Type 8 – Boss

 Somewhere in my being I believe this is a tough world and the powerful take advantage. I have learnt to be powerful myself, to gain respect, power and control for me and other people close to me.

My attention goes towards power and dominance. I try to control my own space and territory. What is important to me is justice and truth and I will protect those that need it. I have little sense of any personal weakness or vulnerability and I certainly wouldn’t show it even if I did.

Often life seems all or nothing, black or white - no half measures. People say I can be aggressive and intimidating, although I do not experience myself that way. I may be impulsive and I find it hard to stop when I’m really enjoying myself (having a lust for life, you might say).

I like things to be exciting and stimulating and I hate being bored. My excesses sometimes lead me to break the rules and can be self-defeating leading to self injury.

What stresses me most is injustice that I can’t put right. It’s also difficult holding back my energy. It costs me to deny I’m in pain or exhausted.

I get really upset/angry with people who won’t stand up for themselves, and I hate deceit, control, manipulation and constraining rules. I will powerfully and directly confront or I initiate a well protected withdrawal. Other need to beware of my revenge.

They will also experience me as courageous, persistent, decisive and fair. I am generous and friendly. I will be self assertive and often intense. My energy will rub off on others.

  Type 9 – Mediator

I value a peaceful and harmonious life style and try to keep it comfortable and familiar. It helps me to have structure and routine so that most things are predictable. I rarely get openly angry which helps maintain my peace and harmony. My attention goes to relating empathetically to others, and pleasing whoever I can. My energy is often involved in less important tasks, so avoiding what may be disturbing.

What I hate is conflict and feeling uncomfortable, and I try to avoid what seems to be the many competing demands of my world.

I am good with other people - attentive, empathetic and supportive. I can adapt to meet most needs with my accepting, receptive nature. I consider myself a caring person if perhaps too adaptive - my own needs and desires seem to get lost.

I often tell myself, “it doesn’t matter”, but I get angry if I’m treated as unimportant. I get angry at people trying to control me or if they try to force me into a confrontation.

Generally my anger is passive and I show it by being stubborn or just resistant. Once in a while, I explode from a build-up of unresolved anger.

I am a good arbitrator/negotiator and a good team person.

Want to know more?

Why not take a look at some good books on the subject. You can purchase them directly via this site.

Or consider taking the Advanced Personality Test

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