Enneagram 101

A quick-and-easy overview
of the nine Enneagram types

Founded by Helen Palmer and David Daniels, MD

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INTRODUCTION

THE ENNEAGRAM is a system of nine

personality types that combines traditional
wisdom and modern psychology into a
powerful tool for understanding ourselves
and the people in our lives.
The Enneagram describes the strengths and
potentials of each personality type as well as
its problems. All personality types are equal,
and the highs and lows of human development THE NINE
can be found in every type. While most people ENNEAGRAM
know the Enneagram as a profound system of TYPES
personal or spiritual growth, in recent years it
also has been adapted for use in the classroom 1. THE PERFECTIONIST
and in business. In addition to providing crucial
“people skills,” the Enneagram supports 2. THE GIVER
self-awareness, good decision-making and
continual learning, which is vital for success 3. THE PERFORMER
in today’s workplace.
4. THE ROMANTIC
One idea underlying the Enneagram is that
people have two important aspects – essence 5. THE OBSERVER
and personality. Each person has a unique
“essential self” that can’t be reduced to a 6. THE LOYAL SKEPTIC
category or a number. However, the Enneagram
describes nine patterns or themes by which 7. THE EPICURE
people form a personality, and a social persona,
to meet the challenges of love and work. 8. THE PROTECTOR
Ideally, personality is an effective way to
express ourselves in the world. But problems 9. THE MEDIATOR
arise when personality covers up the inner self,
or our point of view becomes stuck and rigid.

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BENEFITS

Working with the Enneagram can help BY

us become more successful in our relationships UNDERSTANDING
at home and at work. OUR OWN
By understanding our own patterns, automatic PATTERNS,
reactions and blind spots, we can be more
AUTOMATIC
flexible and skillful with the people in our lives.
When we understand what others are thinking REACTIONS
and feeling, we become more tolerant and AND BLIND
compassionate. (It also helps us not to take SPOTS, WE CAN
other people’s negative reactions or hostility
BE MORE
so personally.)
FLEXIBLE AND
By identifying the psychological and emotional
SKILLFUL WITH
defenses specific to our type, the Enneagram
creates opportunities for profound personal THE PEOPLE
growth and healing. At yet another level, it IN OUR LIVES.
offers a path for developing an inner life and
opening to the presence of Spirit within us.
We offer a unique and personally transformative
experience of the Enneagram through our
Enneagram Studies in the Narrative
Tradition, founded by Helen Palmer and
David Daniels, MD. The Narrative Tradition is
an extraordinary teaching method that offers a
unique and personally transformative experience
of the Enneagram. As you learn about the nine
Enneagram types and witness representatives of
each type sharing their personal stories, you will
gain self-awareness, compassion and insights to
create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

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THE THREE CENTERS

OF INTELLIGENCE

The Enneagram describes three centers of 

intelligence and perception: head, heart and  
Body types
body. While all of us have all three centers, (instinct)

our personality type has a particular strength 


Thinking Feeling
and “home base” in one of them. types types
(intellect) (emotion)
Understanding our primary center gives us an  
important key to developing our personal and
 
professional potential and overcoming our
blind spots.

THE THE THE

INTELLECTUAL EMOTIONAL INSTINCTUAL
CENTER CENTER CENTER
Thinking-based types Feeling-based types Body-based types
lead with ideas, emphasize the heart lead with the body
perception and for positive and for movement, sensate
rational thinking. negative feelings, awareness, gut-level
They emphasize empathy, and concern feelings, personal
gathering information for others, romance security and social
and figuring things and devotion. Their belonging. Their focus
out before acting. focus is on success is on being in control
Their focus is on and relationship, of themselves and
creating certainty performing up to their environment,
and safety, or finding expectations of the and taking action
multiple options. job or other people. in practical ways.
5 - The Observer 2 - The Giver 8 - The Protector
6 - The Loyal Skeptic 3 - The Performer 9 - The Mediator
7 - The Epicure 4 - The Romantic 1 - The Perfectionist

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE ONE:

THE PERFECTIONIST

Ones are a body-based type with an

emphasis on personal integrity and self-control.
Their attention goes toward seeing and
correcting what is wrong, and doing the right
thing. They are known for their honesty,
dependability and common sense. STRENGTHS:
Ones are responsible, so much so that they HONEST,
may resent other people who do not take RESPONSIBLE,
life as seriously as they do. They have high IMPROVEMENT-
standards and tend to see the world in black ORIENTED
and white, right and wrong. It’s easy for them PROBLEMS:
to be critical, of themselves as well as others. RESENTFUL,
They work hard at being right all the time. NON-ADAPTABLE
They are idealistic and will exert great effort AND OVERLY
to improve the world around them, which CRITICAL
often puts them in the role of social reformer.
ARCHETYPAL
Their crucial elements of growth are to learn
CHALLENGE:
to accept their imperfections and tolerate
TO CHANGE
other people’s points of view.
WHAT CAN
Speaking style: Precise and detail-oriented, BE CHANGED,
with a tendency to sermonize or preach. TO ACCEPT
Lower emotional habit: Resentment, WHAT CANNOT
which comes from getting angry, but holding BE CHANGED
it in. AND TO DEVELOP
Higher emotion: Serenity, which comes THE WISDOM
with letting go of anger about the way things TO KNOW THE
are and accepting imperfection. DIFFERENCE

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE TWO:

THE GIVER

Twos are a feeling-based type with

a focus on relationship. They excel at making
connections and empathizing with the needs
and feelings of other people. Usually good at
supporting others and helping bring out their
potential, Twos find turning their attention STRENGTHS:
toward themselves and their own needs much CARING, POPULAR,
more difficult. COMMUNICATOR
They want to be accepted and liked by
others, and will adapt or change to earn this PROBLEMS:
approval. Emotionally sensitive, Twos need to be PRIVILEGED, NAIVE,
very careful what they absorb from the people DEPENDENT
around them. Setting personal boundaries
can be challenging, although they may have ARCHETYPAL
emotional outbursts to relieve the pressure. CHALLENGE:
While being a special person or earning the TO FIND ONESELF
approval of others has its advantages, it doesn’t IN RELATIONSHIP,
substitute for being loved for oneself. BALANCING
Speaking style: Being nice and sympathetic, DEPENDENCY
giving advice, sometimes militant for the cause. AND AUTONOMY

Lower emotional habit: Pride about

being special, important or indispensable in
relationship, poor self-esteem when approval
is not forthcoming.
Higher emotion: Humility, which is being
able to know and hold on to the experience
of self-worth without either self-inflation or
excessive judgment.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE THREE:

THE PERFORMER
Threes are a feeling-based type who
channel their emotional energy into getting
things done. They take the initiative and
work hard to accomplish their goals. Highly
adaptable, they excel at “feeling out” and
meeting the expectations of others when that STRENGTHS:
will lead them to success. SUCCESSFUL,
Threes like to stay active and on the go, so they ENERGETIC,
find it hard to stop or slow down. Their focus HIGH ACHIEVER
on keeping up their image and achieving results
PROBLEMS:
can get in the way of personal needs and health.
OVERWORKED,
In American business, a particularly strong
IMPATIENT,
Three culture, performers get a lot of
COMPETITIVE
positive reinforcement for being productive
and efficient. ARCHETYPAL
A danger for Threes is concentrating on CHALLENGE:
external praise or material rewards while losing TO LET GO OF
contact with who they are inside. It’s difficult IMAGE AND
for them to step out of their roles, feel their SOCIAL PERSONA
own feelings, and decide for themselves what AND FIND
is important. ONE’S INNER
ESSENCE
Speaking style: Enthusiastic, motivating
themselves and others for success.
Lower emotional habit: Vanity, based
on keeping up a good image and always being
successful.
Higher emotion: Truthfulness, which is
the willingness to go beyond appearances
and develop personal authenticity.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE FOUR:

THE ROMANTIC
Fours are a feeling-based type who
often experience a sense of longing or melancholy.
Something is missing for them, which can lead to
feelings of envy. They seek meaning and depth in
their relationships, their work or their quest for
personal creativity.
STRENGTHS:
Many Fours are artists who excel at expressing COMPASSIONATE,
universal human emotions in dance, music and IDEALISTIC,
poetry. While they are good at creating an image, CAPABLE OF
it’s most important for them to be authentic. EMOTIONAL
Often passionate, sometimes overly emotional, DEPTH
their attention moves back and forth from empa-
PROBLEMS:
thizing with others to their own inner experience. MOODY,
Individualists at heart, they need time alone. WITHDRAWN,
To heal and grow, Fours must balance sadness UNCOOPERATIVE
with the capacity for happiness and satisfaction,
even if the relationship or the experience seems ARCHETYPAL
CHALLENGE:
flawed or incomplete.
LIVING WITH
Speaking style: Sometimes warm and full of AN OPEN
feeling, sometimes flat and dry, they tend to be HEART,
subjective and try to be aesthetically correct. WHILE
Often a tone of sadness or dissatisfaction. INTEGRATING
JOY AND
Lower emotional habit: Envy or melancholy SUFFERING
arising from the experience of disappointment
or deficiency.
Higher emotion: Equanimity, which means
keeping the heart open, welcoming all feelings
yet staying in balance.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE FIVE:

THE OBSERVER
Fives are mental types who focus on
intellectual understanding and accumulating
knowledge. They are often scholars or technical
experts because of their keen perception and
analytical ability. Fives value privacy and personal
autonomy, and other people may be experienced
as intrusive. The ability to detach from other
people and from emotional pressure provides STRENGTHS:
personal freedom, but also may create loneliness. SCHOLARLY,
Many people of this type are intellectually PERCEPTIVE,
brilliant or knowledgeable, while feelings and SELF-RELIANT
relationships present an enormous challenge.
For others, family and friends are important, PROBLEMS:
but they still require much time alone to pursue ISOLATED, OVERLY
their own interests. Fives need to balance their INTELLECTUAL,
tendency to withdraw or withhold from people STINGY
by reaching out to others, even if that means
discomfort or conflict. ARCHETYPAL
CHALLENGE:
Speaking style: Rational and content-
PARTICIPATING
oriented, most comfortable in their area
IN LIFE WITH
of expertise. Not big on “small talk.”
FEELINGS, AND
Lower emotional habit: Avarice or hoard- INTEGRATING
ing, which means holding on to information or THE INNER WORLD
other resources based on the fear of shortages, WITH THE OUTER
either in oneself or the environment.
Higher emotion: Non-attachment,
which is letting go in order to be available
for replenishment.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE SIX:

THE LOYAL SKEPTIC
Sixes are mental types who use their
perception and intellect to understand the world
and figure out whether other people are friendly
or hostile. They focus on guarding the safety of
the group, project or family. Sixes are good at
anticipating problems and coming up with solutions. STRENGTHS:
Knowing the rules and making agreements with LOYAL,
other people is important, yet at the same time COURAGEOUS,
they tend to doubt themselves and question ATTENTIVE TO
others. They can oscillate between skepticism PEOPLE AND
and certainty, rebel or true believer. PROBLEMS,
OFTEN
Some Sixes are “cautious” – they hesitate, worry STRATEGIC
and procrastinate. Other Sixes prefer to stay in the THINKERS
“strength” mode – they rush into action and seek
to brace themselves physically or ideologically as a PROBLEMS:
way of overcoming their fear. As Sixes learn to trust SUSPICIOUS,
themselves as well as other people, they become PESSIMISTIC,
more flexible and develop the courage to act, DOUBTFUL
even in the presence of doubt or ambivalence.
ARCHETYPAL
Speaking style: Setting limits on themselves CHALLENGE:
and others, having serious questions, and playing TO SUSTAIN
devil’s advocate. By contrast, sometimes they are FAITH IN OTHER
ideologically zealous. PEOPLE AND
THE LIFE FORCE,
Lower emotional state: Suspicion or distrust, AND TO
which can lead to either fearfulness and holding OVERCOME
back or an aggressive and pushy attitude. THE MIND/
Higher emotion: Courage, which is not bravado BODY SPLIT
but rather means feeling the fear and moving
forward anyway.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE SEVEN:

THE EPICURE
Sevens are mental types who are forward
thinkers and forward movers. They usually bring
an optimistic and positive attitude to all of their
activities, which reflect an interest in many different
subjects. Not wanting to be limited to doing
one thing, they prefer to keep their options and
possibilities open. STRENGTHS:
ADVENTUROUS,
Although they can be excellent communicators, FUN LOVING,
Sevens are less concerned with image and other QUICK THINKING
people’s approval than other types. They put a
priority on having fun, whether that’s found in travel PROBLEMS:
and adventure or more intellectual pursuits. Since SELF-ABSORBED,
DISPERSED,
they are enthusiastic consumers of new ideas, new
UNCOMMITTED
technology and pleasurable experiences, too much
of a good thing can be a problem for them. Because ARCHETYPAL
their attention shifts so quickly, it’s challenging for CHALLENGE:
Sevens to focus in depth and to stay the course in TO MAKE
work and relationships. Slowing down, being in the IDEALISM
PRACTICAL,
moment, and learning to tolerate their own and
INTEGRATING
other people’s suffering can bring needed balance. OPTIMISM
Speaking style: Personal storytelling, which can AND POSITIVE
be either highly entertaining or simply self-absorbed. THINKING WITH
They also focus on the positive, and tend to ignore THE SHADOW
or quickly “reframe” the negative. SIDE OR
PROBLEMS
Lower emotional habit: Gluttony, which isn’t
just about food, but rather a kind of intoxication or
over-consumption of ideas, fun experiences or substances.
Higher emotion: Sobriety, which means both
limiting consumption and calming the mind to be
present in the moment.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE EIGHT:

THE PROTECTOR
Eights are a body-based type who tend
to take charge of situations and step into the
leadership role. Energetic and intense, they can
be intimidating to other people at times.
Impatient with rules and regulations, they like
to do everything their way. STRENGTHS:
Eights place a high priority on fairness or justice. ENTHUSIASTIC,
If they feel wronged, they will fight back, since in GENEROUS,
their experience weakness or vulnerability will POWERFUL
precipitate an attack from the outside world. PROBLEMS:
The strength (and aggression) generated in this EXCESSIVE,
mission can be awesome, but also misapplied. ANGRY,
Eights’ challenge is to combine assertion and DOMINATING
control with interdependency and cooperation,
ARCHETYPAL
as well as learning how to curb their often CHALLENGE:
excessive appetites. TO HARNESS
THE LIFE FORCE
Speaking Style: Eights usually speak assertively
IN PRODUCTIVE
and exert strong leadership. They tend to be bossy WAYS,
and often get angry when something goes wrong. INTEGRATING
Lower emotional habit: Anger and SELF-ASSERTION
excessiveness, with a revengeful attitude WITH
toward people. VULNERABILITY.

Higher emotion: Innocence, which means to

face life with an open heart and without cynicism.

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ENNEAGRAM TYPE NINE:

THE MEDIATOR
Nines are body-based types, balanced
at the top of the Enneagram and considered the
most basic or undistorted personality type.
People of this type come in all shapes and sizes,
but they share a common problem with inertia
(or momentum). Whether they are lazy in the
traditional sense or hard workers continually on
STRENGTHS:
the move, Nines have a problem with priorities BALANCED,
and find it difficult to change directions or shift ACCEPTING,
attention to what is most important. They are self- HARMONIOUS
forgetful, meaning they forget their own agenda.
PROBLEMS:
Nines excel at seeing all points of view, so while STUBBORN,
it might be difficult for them to make personal AMBIVALENT,
decisions, they can be excellent mediators and CONFLICT-
peace-makers for others. Nines seek harmony AVOIDANT
in their environment. As body-based types, they
have a strong sense of gut-level knowing, although ARCHETYPAL
paradoxically, they can be out of touch with their CHALLENGE:
WAKING UP TO
bodies in other ways.
PRIORITIES IN
Speaking style: Inclusive and welcoming at THE PRESENT
their best, Nines may have trouble getting to the MOMENT,
point. They can be linear and controlled, or quite INTEGRATING
scattered. HARMONY
WITH CONFLICT
Lower emotional habit: Laziness of
attention, or heedlessness, makes it hard for
them to face priorities or conflict.
Higher emotion: Right action, which is the
willingness to do what needs to be done and use
oneself well in the process

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Explore your own Enneagram pattern and how it shapes your
relationships with these two collections:

Patterns of Being
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Recorded during one of Helen Palmer's

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In Patterns of Relating, acclaimed author

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