Perfection with Resentment ( .. points)
Special Gift: A vision of Balance and Completion.
Self Definition: "I'm right. I'm hard working.
Shadow Issue: Wrath (Violent Anger; Self Righteous Indignation).
Rejected Element: Direct expression of Anger.
Addiction: Perfection.
Strength Needed: Patience, Serenity.
Defence Mechanism: Reaction Formation.
Psychological Disturbance: Compulsive Personality.
(e.g. excessive frugality, obstinacy, cleanliness, etc)
Talk Style: Preach and Teach.
Preoccupations Include: Demanding Internal Standards. Difficulty acknowledging personal Desires that conflict with these standards of correctness. Comparing Self to others and concern about criticism. Compulsive worry about wrong decisions. Self Righteous displacement of Anger towards what appear to be Legitimate Outside Targets. Focus on Error (which can develop superb powers of criticism, including humour). Conflict between rigidity and sensitivity.
Focus: Personal emphasis on Worry. Couple emphasis on jealousy. Community emphasis on consistency and firmness.
Life Task: To achieve a sense of Serenity with a body secure in it's capacities. As Projections are worked through and Resentment has been tamed, Compassion becomes possible.
Sub Type/s Perfectionists have a strong tendency to be Judgers.
Suggested Job Types If analytical and tough minded, Perfectionists are good in Management, Specification Development, Science and Law Enforcement, People oriented Perfectionists are good in Health Care, Education and Religious Work, etc. Also Car Mechanics, Surgeons, Dentists, Bankers and Stockbrokers, etc.
At their Best Ethical, reliable, productive, wise, idealistic, fair, honest, orderly and self disciplined.
At their Worst Judgmental, inflexible, dogmatic, obsessive compulsive, critical of others, overly serious, controlling, anxious and jealous.
ENNEAGRAM POINT TWO – THE CARER / GIVER
Helpfulness with Manipulation ( ..points)
Special Gift: Warmth and ability to help people feel comfortable.
Self Definition: "I'm Helpful"
Shadow Issue: Parasitic Pride (Pride derived from others, not Self)
Rejected Element: One's Own Needs
Addiction: Service / Manipulation
Strength Needed: Appropriate Self Value
Defence Mechanism: Repression
Psychological Disturbance: Hysteria / Dependent Personality
e.g. extreme emotional instability, getting everyone to take responsibility for the "helper".
Talk Style: Help and Advice
Preoccupations Include: Gaining approval and avoiding rejection, pride in the importance of oneself in relationships. Submission to a powerful other, then identifying with the other to avoid feeling depressed. Concern about limited personal freedom. Altering oneself to meet the needs of others. Empathy with other's feelings; adapting to their wishes as a way of assuring their love.
Focus: Personal emphasis on privilege ("me first"). Couple emphasis on aggression / seduction. Community emphasis on ambition.
Life Task: To move from dependence on approval to knowledge of personal strength to meet one's own needs. This usually requires personal loss. The resulting depression can lead to more accurate self assessment and understanding of tasks.
Sub Type/s Helpers have a strong tendency to be Extroverts.
Suggested Job Types Work with people, procedure development, helping professions, counsellors, teachers, health workers, Extroverted Helpers make good actors and actresses and motivational speakers. Also sales, helping others as receptionists, secretaries, assistants, decorators, clothing consultants, etc.
At their best Loving, caring, adaptable, insightful, generous, enthusiastic, tuned in to how people feel.
At their worst Martyr like, indirect, manipulative, possessive, hysterical, overly accommodating and when Extrovert are overly demonstrative.
ENNEAGRAM POINT THREE – THE PERFORMER
Achievement with Emphasis on Image ( ..points)
Special Gift: The ability to get things done.
Self Definition: "I'm successful"
Shadow Issue: Lying
Rejected Element: Failure
Addiction: Efficiency
Strength Needed: Truth / Hope
Defence Mechanism: Identification
Psychological Disturbance: Workaholism; manic depression e.g. alternate elation and depression.
Talk Style: Self Promotion
Preoccupations Include: Identification with competitive achievement. Belief that they get love for what they produce rather than for what they are. Poor access to personal feelings. Constant adjustment of image to gain approval. Self deception to maintain a public image. Identification of Self with role or job over family concern. Submission by conforming to other's values, then avoidance of depression by achieving the other's approval. Convergent thinking; a multi track mind focused on a single goal.
Focus: Personal emphasis on security. Couple emphasis on masculinity / femininity. Community emphasis on prestige.
Life Task: To stop valuing themselves in terms of their performance. Usually only a significant failure can precipitate the depression needed to sufficiently slow down and question what they are doing, and why. Hope comes with the practice of truth and in glimpsing a larger vision of lawfulness.
Sub Type/s Achievers have a strong tendency to be Extrovert Judgers
Suggested Job Types Management and other leadership positions in business, law, banking, the computer field, politics, broadcasters and performers. Help oriented Threes are good for teachers, social services, health, home makers. Resource Management, Personnel Department, Administrative Support, Expediters, etc.
At their best optimistic, confident, industrious, efficient, self propelled, energetic and practical.
At their worst deceptive, narcissistic, vain, superficial, vindictive and overly competitive.
ENNEAGRAM POINT FOUR – THE TRAGIC ROMANTIC
Excellence with Moody Nostalgia (.. points)
Special Gift: The ability to create beauty.
Self Definition: "I'm unique. I conform to standards of excellence."
Shadow Issue: Envy.
Rejected Element: The "commonplace"
Addiction: Superior standards with contempt for lesser standards.
Strength Needed: Contentment.
Defence Mechanism: Introjection, artistic sublimation.
Psychological Disturbance: Depression and manic depression.
Talk Style: Sad stories.
Preoccupations Include: Attraction to the distant and unavailable. Attachment to melancholy mood, impatience with flat ordinary feelings, need to re-intensify through loss, fantasy and drama. Submission to loss and limitation by making a transformed version. Luxury and artistic good taste as bolsters to self esteem. Push-pull attention on negative features of what one has and positive features of what is not available, reinforcing feelings of abandonment and loss but also fostering sensitivity to emotion and pain in others with ability to support them in a crisis.
Focus: Personal emphasis on reckless, defensive action. Couple emphasis on competition. Community emphasis on shame.
Life Task: To achieve a sense of the reality of now, and to attain the strength of contentment and balance in harmony with all that is. Uncovering the grief and sadness under the creative displacement allows completion.
Sub Type/s Romantics have a strong tendency to be Introvert Feelers
Suggested Job Types Romantics can inspire, influence, and persuade through the arts (music, fine art, dancing), and the written or spoken word (poetry, novels, journalism and teaching) Psychologists, counsellors. Small businesses, Mundane pursuits to support their creative activities. Organisational Arrangements, etc.
At their best Warm, compassionate, introspective, expressive, creative, intuitive, supportive and refined.
At their worst Depressed, self conscious, guilt ridden, moralistic, withdrawn, stubborn, moody and self absorbed.
ENNEAGRAM POINT FIVE – THE OBSERVER
Knowledge with Withdrawal (.. points)
Special Gift: Knowing "What's so".
Self Definition: "I'm perceptive"
Shadow Issue: Miserliness.
Rejected Element: Meaninglessness.
Addiction: Knowledge
Strength Needed: Detachment.
Defence Mechanism: Isolation (compartmentalisation)
Psychological Disturbance: Avoidant Personality.
e.g. hypersensitivity to rejection, refusing relationships unless uncritically accepting.
Talk Style: Dissertations.
Preoccupations Include: Concern with privacy; withdrawal; social/anti-social dichotomy. Restricting and minimising Personal Needs as a way of Non Involvement. Need to control unpredictable Feelings and Reactions. Sectioning off Emotionally charged Experiences into predetermined time units; setting boundaries. Interest in using Analytical Knowledge as a substitute for Emotional Experience. Confusion between Spiritual Non Attachment and Personal withdrawal from Emotional Pain. "Outside Observer" point of view leading some to feel isolated from the events of one's life and others to a point of view detached from the biases of Personal Fear of Desire.
Personal Focus on "home and castle". Couple emphasis on Confidence. Community emphasis on Totems, identifying with "those who know".
Life Task: Gaining Knowledge of Life by stepping into action from being an Observer,taking in exactly what is needed and letting the rest go.
Sub Type/s Observers have a strong tendency to be Introvert Thinkers.
Suggested Job Type Scientific, technical or other intellectually demanding work. Analytical skills, problem solving. Those with a well developed Four Wing are good for counsellors, musicians, artists, or writers. Also supervisors.
At their Best Analytical, persevering, sensitive, wise, objective, perceptive and self contained.
At their worst Intellectually arrogant
ENNEAGRAM POINT SIX – THE QUESTIONER / DEVILS ADVOCATE
Security with Fear and Doubt (.. points)
Special Gift: Care and Concern for the Group.
Self Definition: "I'm loyal. I'm cautious.
Shadow Issue: Cowardice or Counter Phobic Reckless Courage
Rejected Element: Originality.
Addiction: Security.
Strength Needed: Courage (Faith)
Defence Mechanism: Projection.
Psychological Disturbance: Anxiety Disorder, Paranoid Schizophrenia.
e.g. panic, fear, post traumatic stress / rationalised delusions.
Talk Style: Group Thought.
Preoccupations Include: High Alertness to Danger. Phobic /Counter Phobic Authority Problems; submit or rebel; push or surrender. Identifies with the Underdog. Procrastination; thinking replaces doing. Amnesia regarding Success and Pleasure. Suspicion of other's Motives. Fear of Hostility and possible eruption of one's own Negative Reactions. Scepticism and Doubt. Scanning the Environment to look for clues that might explain inner sense of threat.
Focus: Personal emphasis on warmth and affection. Couple emphasis on strength and beauty. Community emphasis on duty.
Life Task: To achieve Faith that nothing from the outside can hurt his or her Essence; to attain Trust and Strength of Courage.
Sub Type/s Questioners have a strong tendency to be compatible with all Sub Types.
Suggested Job Type Almost any career, though often attracted to the justice system, the military, the corporate world and academia. Questioners often like being part of a team. Also health care and education. Quality Management, Quality Control, Inspection, etc.
At their Best: Loyal, Likeable, caring, warm, compassionate, witty, practical, helpful and responsible.
At their Worst: Hyper-vigilant, controlling, unpredictable, judgmental, paranoid, defensive, rigid, self defeating and testy.
ENNEAGRAM POINT SEVEN – THE ADVENTURER / EPICURE
Include: Maintaining high levels of stimulation, many activities, many things to do, wanting to stay "high." Replacing Deep Contact with Pleasant Talking, Planning, Intellectualising. Defusing Threat; maintaining a smoke screen of Activity. Charm as a first line of defence against Fear. Talking one's way out of trouble. Interrelating and systemising information such that Commitments necessarily include loopholes and other Backup Options which can lead to rationalised escape from difficult commitments, but can also lead to an Ability to synthesise unusual connections and parallels between what appear to be Antagonistic points of view. Superior / Inferiority dichotomy.
Focus: Personal emphasis on savouring L
Easy Optimism with uneasy activity (.. points)
Special Gift: The Ability to create Pleasure and make things happen.
Self Definition: "I'm Fun. I see the bright side of life."
Shadow Issue: Gluttony.
Rejected Element: Pain.
Addiction: Easy Optimism.
Strength Needed: Level Headed Optimism.
Defence Mechanism: Rationalisation.
Psychological Disturbance: Narcissism
e.g. self admiration to the detriment of others.
Talk Style: Anecdotes.
Preoccupations ife. Couple emphasis on being with people of like mind. Community emphasis on limits and obligations.
Life Task: To work with a sense of proportion and balance anchored in the now. Pain of any kind can serve as a steadying point of focus.
Sub Type/s Adventurers have a strong tendency to be Extrovert Perceivers.
Suggested Job Type Several jobs at once, Pilots, Flight Attendants, Photographers, Entrepreneurs, Clients, Project Managers, Department Managers, Trouble Shooters, Teachers, Nurses, Counsellors, Not repetitive work. Strategists, etc
At their Best Fun loving, spontaneous, imaginative, productive, enthusiastic, quick, confident, charming and curious.
At their Worst Narcissistic, impulsive, unfocussed, rebellious, undisciplined, possessive, manic, self destructive and restless.
ENNEAGRAM POINT EIGHT – THE ASSERTER / BOSS
Self Defined Justice with Arrogance (.. points)
Special Gift: Care for the Underdog.
Self Definition: "I can do. I'm powerful."
Shadow Issue: Lust - use of others as objects.
Rejected Element: Weakness.
Addiction: Arrogant justice.
Strength Needed: Trust.
Defence Mechanism: Denial.
Psychological Disturbance: Sociopath.
e.g. disturbed social relationships, antisocial personality.
Talk Style: Imperatives.
Preoccupations Include: Aggression and Impulse Control. Puritan / Hedonist dichotomy.. Control of personal objects, space and people likely to influence the EIGHT'S Security. Concern with Justice and Protection of others.
Focus: Personal emphasis on satisfactory survival. Couple emphasis on possession / surrender. Community emphasis on friendship.
Life Task: Realisation of Truth and Justice in each moments flow of Reality. Accepting one's personal weakness offers the possibility of Integration.
Sub Type/s Asserters have a strong tendency to be Extrovert Thinkers
Suggested Job Types In charge, self employed, entrepreneurs, business executives, lawyers, military and union leaders, sports figures, teaching, helping and health professions, resolving difficult problems, Policy and Proposal Development, Law Enforcement, Charity workers,
At their Best Direct, authoritative, loyal, energetic, earthy, protective, self confident.
At their Worst Controlling, rebellious, insensitive, domineering, self centred, sceptical and aggressive.
ENNEAGRAM POINT NINE – THE PEACEMAKER / MEDIATOR
Non Aggression with Indolence and Indecision (.. points)
Special Gift: Peaceful Awareness.
Self Definition: "I'm easy going."
Shadow Issue: Laziness.
Rejected Element: Conflict.
Addiction: Indecision / Inaction.
Strength Needed: Action (Love)
Defence Mechanism: Narcotisation; "shutting off the juice"
Psychological Disturbance: Obsessive / Passive Aggressive personality.
Talk Style: Stories.
Preoccupations Include: Dichotomy of Belief / Doubt. Dichotomy of Mystical / Worldly concerns. Replacing essential needs with inessential substitutes. Indecisiveness and difficulty saying "no". Containment of physical energy and anger. Control through stubbornness and Passive Aggression. Fluctuating Attitudes. oppositional behaviour and Emotions - either to adhere to the Desires of others as a means of gaining Security, or to be Defiantly Resistant and independent. Difficulty in maintaining a personal point of view, but ability to recognise and support another's position. Fight phobic; avoiding conflict by not knowing the Anger within.
Focus: Personal emphasis on appetite. Couple emphasis on Union. Community emphasis on participation.
Life Task: To Experience Love guided by the strength of taking actions appropriate to any given situation, including Conflict.
Sub Type/s Peacemakers have a strong tendency to be Introvert Perceivers.
Suggested Job Types Listeners, Objective, Mediators, Diplomats, Helping Professions, Military, Civil Service, other bureaucracies, Managers, Diplomats, etc.
At their Best Pleasant, peaceful, generous, patient, receptive, diplomatic, open minded and empathic.
At their Worst Spaced out, forgetful, stubborn, obsessive, apathetic, passive aggressive, judgmental and unassertive.
