What Does Your Enneagram Type Say About You?

You’ve heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and you know your astrological sign. But do you know which enneagram type you are? And what exactly is the enneagram? We have the details.

What Is The Enneagram?

Enneagram assessments “…describe patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions.” So, unlike other tests that describe your traits, the enneagram gives insight on how you deal with outside forces and digest your surroundings. It’s a deeper look into the emotional reactions we have to stimuli, all of which can be categorized into nine personality types.

The enneagram dives deep into your psyche, also analyzing your values, motivations, and fears – essentially, who you are and what you stand for at your core. Using this analysis, it delves into your outlook and responses to the environment based on your own belief system.

Basically: other personality indicators give you the what of who you are, while the enneagram system gives you the why.

Enneagram “wings” give further insight into your motivations. The “wings” are the enneagram numbers directly next to your primary; for example, if you’re type 4, your wing could be type 3 or type 5. There is debate on whether or not one of the two wings is more influential, but ultimately, it’s agreed that these wings feature characteristics from our main number.

The Enneagram Types

As I mentioned, there are nine different enneagram types, each with a number. Each type also has a name, like the MBTI’s Artist or Protector, or astrology’s Cancer or Scorpio. Specific traits affect the outcomes, but again: it’s more about the why than the what. These are the nine types, with descriptions, strengths, and weaknesses.

Type 1 – The Reformer

Reformers generally are principled and purposeful. Everything they do has meaning behind it, powered by rationale and moral compass – right and wrong. They are natural-born leaders, taking charge of situations thanks to their extremely organized and detail-oriented eye.

This natural leadership leads to great achievements, and type 1s pride themselves on their drive. They credit their persistence, integrity, and can-do attitudes with their positive results, and their end goal is always to be seen as “good.”

Their downfalls include their perfectionism – their incredibly high standards can result in hypercritical responses when expectations aren’t met. They’re also impatient with those who do not meet their standards, expecting others to keep up with their pace.

Type 2 – The Helper

The Helper is caring, gentle, and a people-pleaser. Their goal in life is to constantly nurture those who need it in and support and encourage their loved ones through their growth. Everything they do comes from the heart, which is a genuine place of love and warmth.

People flock to the Helper because they know they always have someone in their corner. Type 2s’ interpersonal skills allow for positive and uplifting communication, and they’re generally good at expressing their feelings. All they want in exchange is to feel reciprocal love and appreciation.

Unfortunately, the desire for reciprocity can turn type 2s into slight martyrs. They may meet others’ needs to the nth degree, hoping that their needs will be met in return and then feeling betrayed when they are not. They also take care of others before they take care of themselves, which can lead to resentment.

Type 3 – The Achiever

If you’re looking to rely on someone who is driven by potential for success, you’ll want to find yourself a type 3. The Achiever does exactly what their name suggests: they reach their goals thanks to endless ambition, enthusiasm, charm, and remaining level-headed throughout the process.

The Achiever is collaborative, always listening to others. They believe everyone brings a perspective that can be beneficial to the road to success, and they encourage openness among the team. They love to inspire others to chase their full potential and feel a sense of pride when their loved ones reach their goals.

Unfortunately, this drive for success can cause type 3s to get in their own heads, becoming obsessed with seeming put together. Any stumble in confidence is a failure. They’re also scared of feeling worthless and may insert themselves into others’ success to feel accomplishment, especially when they are struggling to meet their own goals.

Type 4 – The Individualist

Type 4s bring gentility, wisdom, and genuine emotion to the table at all times. They’re on the quieter side, but when they do speak up, it’s nothing but honesty and insight. They allow others to feel vulnerable, too, which can lead to in-depth discussions about life.

After conversations with the Individualist, many come away feeling more in-touch with themselves, heard and understood, and at peace with where they are in life. Type 4s’ individuality allows for authenticity and creativity, giving those around them encouragement to live their truths.

The negative side of type 4s is their tendency to self-pity. They may feel as though no one understands them and their individuality, leading them to hide within themselves and sulk away from the rest. Despite encouraging vulnerability, they sometimes are scared of it themselves, accidentally becoming hypocrites out of fear.

Type 5 – The Investigator

The Investigator watches. They sit in the background, noting everything they see and hear, internalizing the knowledge they catch. Type 5s are the perfect people to talk to when you want to learn more about something (or someone). When given time to deep-dive into a subject, they’ll search until they find answers.

Type 5s take the knowledge they gain from asking surface-level questions and connect each idea to one another. This helps them develop deeper questions, and they ultimately reach the root of each topic they’re curious about. This makes them useful to those searching for answers to life’s more complex questions.

The Investigator’s biggest flaw is their desperation to be useful in all situations. They feel threatened when put on the spot and asked something they can’t answer immediately, believing their reputation as the know-it-all is at stake. This can lead to impulsive, reactive responses, which can isolate type 5s.

Type 6 – The Loyalist

Ride-or-dies come in the form of Loyalists. They will fight for their loved ones ‘til the end, protecting those who matter and committing to be by their sides 100%. They are dependable, can keep anyone’s secrets, and hold themselves accountable when they cannot protect their loved ones.

It’s easy to return the love to type 6s, because they are so damn likable. Many find their truest friends in type 6s because they provide constant security, trustworthiness, and endless support. Even if you make a bad decision, they’ll have your back through it all and do all they can to make you feel better.

The main problem with the Loyalist is their codependency. If you’re someone who needs space, Loyalists will make it difficult to have breathing room. Their biggest fear is being without mutual commitment to somebody, and they’ll latch onto whomever they can – even if the person they commit to is unworthy or unhealthy to be around.

Type 7 – The Enthusiast

Want to get hyped up in anticipation for a party, a date, a job? Turn to type 7s. They’ll get you going, boosting your confidence and encouraging you to live your best life. They pass along their extroversion when needed and will always help you see the glass as half full.

Their optimistic, spontaneous nature is attractive to anyone who is their complete opposite. So, if you’re more pessimistic and low-key, their enthusiasm will get you out of your comfort zone. This will usually lead to positive experiences, because the Enthusiast knows when to – and when not to – convince you to loosen up. You’ll never feel regret after following type 7s’ leads.

At the same time, their spontaneous and impulsive nature can get them into trouble. They’ll never put friends in these situations, but when they’re left to their own devices, they’re unpredictable. Type 7s will occasionally experience burnout and retreat within themselves to heal, which can be frustrating when you need them.

Type 8 – The Challenger

The Challenger is fearless and knows their dream destination. This enneagram is not afraid to go after their wants, even if there are huge obstacles. While often driven by ego, type 8s are who you want around when you’re stuck while trying to problem-solve.

This enneagram is to be admired when it comes to their drive. They keep their eye on the prize, never falling off track until they reach the end of their goal or solve their problems. They are also protectors, and their aggressive nature will keep nay-sayers out of your way.

Understandably, Challengers also struggle to collaborate. This is because they’re often hard-headed and stubborn, and it’s their way or the highway. If someone tries to stop them, they won’t shy away from a confrontation. They hate being controlled, and they’ll make that known.

Type 9 – The Peacemaker

Type 9s’ aim is to…well, keep the peace. They are not confrontational in the slightest, instead helping to smooth over any interpersonal bumps in the road.

Peacemakers are fantastic mediators, always willing to listen to arguments objectively and mitigate conflict – they remain stable and do not let their own emotions get involved. You can trust Peacemakers to stay calm and rational when you cannot.

As we all know, it’s impossible to completely avoid tension – it’s human nature. Peacemakers aren’t fans of this and will do all they can to stop conflict before it begins. However, this can stop growth that comes from conflict, and others may grow bitter when not given the option to duke it out.

Resources For Enneagram Assessments

The enneagram is a fascinating way to learn more about yourself, and it can surprise you with deep explanations as to why you react in certain ways in specific situations. If you’re curious to see what enneagram type you are, these websites have questions that can lead you to your type: