9 Personality Types
The Enneagram is divided into nine distinct personality types. As you read the descriptions of each, you may discover that you feel deep resonance with one or many of the different types. In fact, all of us have a little bit of each one inside us.
Below are short summaries of the nine types with a link to a reflection by Richard Rohr where you can learn more about each number.
Glossary of Terms:
The Need: The fundamental driving instinct for each type
Role: The characteristic that this type is most likely to personify in their lives, families, communities, work, etc.
Virtue: The path to growth in relation to redeeming this type’s vice
Vice: The basic False Self motivation that separates a person from the True Self
Basic Desire: The healthy motivation that drives a person towards their Truest Selves
–
The ONE
The need to be perfect
Safety: Believe that safety is found in being able to avoid criticism or punishment by being correct
Love: Believe that love is earned by being responsible for themselves and others
Identity: I AM MY PERFECTION – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to the rules and making the percieved “right” choices
Vice: Anger and resentment
Virtue: Serenity
Role: Reformer
Basic Desire: Goodness, integrity, excellence
Further Reading
–
The TWO
The need to be needed
Safety: Believe that safety is found in getting approval and serving others
Love: Believe that love is earned by pleasing others through being useful
Identity: I AM MY USEFULNESS – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to everyone else’s needs and opinions
Vice: Pride
Virtue: Humility
Role: Helper
Basic Desire: To give and receive love
Further Reading
–
The THREE
The need to succeed
Safety: Believe that safety is found in personal achievement, image and status
Love: Believe that love is earned by pleasing others through performance
Identity: I AM MY PERFORMANCE – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to their exterior performance
Vice: Deceit (especially self-deceit)
Virtue: Authenticity
Role: Achiever
Basic Desire: To feel valuable
Further Reading
–
The FOUR
The need to be special
Safety: Believe that safety is found in the pursuit of meaning and emotional depth
Love: Believe that love is earned by connecting through feeling everything
Identity: I AM MY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to their big emotions and unique experience
Vice: Envy
Virtue: Equanimity (appreciating life just as it is)
Role: Individualist
Basic Desire: To be uniquely themselves
Further Reading
–
The FIVE
The need to perceive
Safety: Believe that safety is found in detached observation and knowledge
Love: Believe that love is earned by providing physical needs
Identity: I AM MY KNOWLEDGE – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to knowledge and isolation
Vice: Avarice (Insatiable greed for knowledge and for personal privacy)
Virtue: Non-attachment (not clinging and not avoiding)
Role: Investigator
Basic Desire: Mastery, understanding
Further Reading
–
The SIX
The need for security
Safety: Believe that safety is found in constant assessment and avoiding of perceived threats
Love: Believe that love is earned by keeping everyone safe
Identity: I AM MY CONTROL – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to control
Vice: Fear
Virtue: Courage
Role: Loyalist
Basic Desire: To have support, guidance
Further Reading
–
The SEVEN
The need to avoid pain
Safety: Believe that safety is found in escaping discomfort through pleasurable distractions
Love: Believe that love is earned through being happy and making people happy
Identity: I AM MY HAPPINESS – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to happiness and other pleasurable distractions
Vice: Gluttony (an insatiable quest for new experiences and options)
Virtue: Sobriety (a sober joy despite life’s difficulties)
Role: Enthusiast
Basic Desire: To be satisfied and content
Further Reading
–
The EIGHT
The need to be against
Safety: Believe that safety is found in attacking before being attacked
Love: Believe that love is earned through fighting on behalf of others
Identity: I AM MY STRENGTH – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to their perceived strength and power over others
Vice: Lust (an addiction to intensity)
Virtue: Innocence (or mercy)
Role: Challenger
Basic Desire: Self-protection
Further Reading
–
The NINE
The need for peace
Safety: Believe that safety is found in avoiding conflict
Love: Believe that love is earned through bringing peace and harmony to every situation
Identity: I AM MY AVOIDANCE – Lose their True Identity by attaching too closely to their ability to avoid conflict
Vice: Sloth (lack of focused energy)
Virtue: Decisive action
Role: Peacemaker
Basic Desire: Wholeness, peace, harmony
Further Reading
–
