What Is the Enneagram Test for Personality Type?

What Is the Enneagram?

The Enneagram is an ancient system for understanding personality and the human psyche.¹ It is broken into nine distinct personality types, and each type has certain core fears, desires, and drives that can be expressed in positive or negative ways. Identifying and learning about your Enneagram type can be helpful for people who are interested in deepening their self-awareness.^1,5

Many psychologists have explored similarities between the 9 Enneagram types and other popular methods of analyzing personality types, including Carl Jung’s 12 archetypes, Myer’s Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Big Five personality test. Similar to these models, the 9 Enneagram provides a framework for categorizing personality according to different dominant tendencies.^1,4

The Enneagram is represented by three overlapping triangles, which create the shape of a star.⁴ Each point of the star represents a distinct personality type with a specific life goal or motivation. Each point has a special relationship to the personality types beside it, considered wings to the type, which are believed to have an influence.^1,2,4

The test most often used to determine Enneagram types is the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (or RHETI), and helps people identify which of the 9 types they are as well as giving tips on their secondary type or ‘wing’. For example, someone who is a type 5 on the Enneagram will have secondary traits of either a 3 or 6, which is a considered their ‘wing’. Both the primary Enneagram number and the wing are useful in getting the most insight out of the Enneagram model.^3,4

Basic Enneagram Type

Your basic Enneagram type will be a number between 1-9 and describes your core motivations and drives. Each of the 9 types has been given a name that represents its core characteristics, gifts, and life goals. While everyone is believed to have some traits of each of the 9 types, people also have a dominant type that best describes their personality.^4,6

While it’s believed that people’s primary type doesn’t change in life, the Enneagram does have a specific progression for each type to account for these changes. For each of the 9 types in the Enneagram, the progression involves traits and tendencies of other types in the model. This progression can be a positive one of growth and development when the traits are provided ‘security’ or a negative progression of disintegration when the traits are placed under ‘stress’. ^1,3,5

Adjacent Enneagram Types

Your adjacent or secondary type is called a ‘wing’. The wing is always one of two adjacent types in the diagram (one of the two types on either side of your primary type). Depending on which wing you have, your personality will also be influenced by the dominant traits, tendencies, and drives of this type.^2,4

For example, someone who is a 4 on the Enneagram will have slightly different personality traits and habits depending on whether they have a 3 wing (represented as 4W3) or a 5 wing (4W5). While both are usually emotionally attuned, creative, and good at self-expression, the 4W3 personality is usually more extroverted than the 4W5, who often requires more alone time to stay balanced.^4,6

The 9 Enneagram Types

The nine Enneagram personality types display unique talents, traits, and abilities, and also unique drives that guide a person’s actions and choices. These drives include core fears, desires, and predictable patterns of responding to each. Within each of the nine types, there is potential for either positive expressions or negative expressions. ^1,3,4

Here are the nine Enneagram types: ^1,4,5,6

Type 1: The Reformer/The Perfectionist

The perfectionist, or reformer, is type one in the Enneagram. Ones are often detail-oriented and conscientious personalities that rely on routines and structure. Ones tend to be highly principled people who have good work ethics, a strong set of morals, and high standards for themselves and others. Perfectionists often possess excellent critical thinking and organizational skills, and can be depended on to get things done correctly and on time.

Ones need to remain flexible and cooperative and maintain a good work-life balance to stay balanced. When they’re not balanced, perfectionists can become highly Type A, rigid, and controlling. Imbalance ones can be very critical and can also fall into unhealthy patterns of perfectionism, self-criticism, and obsessiveness. Finding a balance between control and acceptance is key for Enneagram type ones.

The Enneagram type 1 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Organized, focused, self-disciplined, and detail-oriented
• Weaknesses: Rigid, controlling, anxious/high-strung, critical, and obsessive
• Basic Fears: Losing control, chaos, uncertainty, and failing to meet expectations
• Basic Desires: Consistency, achievement, competence, self-improvement
• Tendencies: Organized, hard-working, focused, self-driven
• With 9 wing (1W9): More introverted, focused on internal control and self-discipline
• With 2 wing (1W2): More extraverted, focused on external order and leadership

Type 2: The Helper/The Giver

Twos in the Enneagram are represented by the helper or giver and are considered the service-oriented personality. They are highly empathetic and attuned to the feelings and needs of the people around them. Twos are always looking for ways to contribute or help other people but can become imbalanced when they give too much to others without taking care of their own feelings and needs.

Twos often struggle to set boundaries that are healthy and may overextend themselves, especially in their closest relationships. This can lead them to develop one-sided relationships that are draining, which can lead them to feel unappreciated and resentful. Sometimes, this can cause them to lash out at other people, becoming hostile and demanding. Regular self-care and forming mutual and reciprocal relationships are all important ways to keep twos balanced.

The Enneagram type 2 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Empathetic, sincere, approachable, dependable, kind, generous
• Weaknesses: Poor boundaries, codependence, over-commitment, anger, and resentment
• Basic Fears: Rejection, being alone, loss of a loved one, having to say no
• Basic Desires: To build a community, help others and contribute their time and talent
• Tendencies: Friendly, compassionate, loyal, self-sacrificial, always willing to assist
• With 1 wing (2W1): More introverted, prefers 1:1 to groups, focuses on family/friends
• With 3 wing (2W3): More extraverted, natural social networker, and a born leader

Type 3: Achiever

Threes are the achievers, and are highly ambitious, goal-oriented individuals who are successful because of their determination and follow through. They tend to be very competitive, confident, and willing to take bold steps to overcome obstacles and barriers. Threes are often highly driven individuals who don’t mind being the center of attention and even enjoy performing in front of a group.

Achievers can become imbalanced when they misuse their gift of ambition to chase after power, wealth, or other ignoble goals. Threes can sometimes become so focused on a goal that they fail to consider the possible ‘costs’ of victory. Their competitive tendency and natural self-assured nature can sometimes come across as aggression or a type of narcissism to others, making it important that these personalities remain kind and committed to a moral code.

The Enneagram type 3 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Ambitious, confident, goal-oriented, brave, high performers
• Weaknesses: Overly competitive, reckless, ruthless, overconfident
• Basic Fears: Fear of failure, incompetence, and feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness
• Basic Desires: Victory, effectiveness, achievement, and earning the respect of others
• Tendencies: Bold, driven, highly motivated and ambitious, competitive, task-focused
• With 2 wing (3W2): More extraverted, social, and concerned with their reputation
• With 4 wing (3W4): More introverted, self-aware, and concerned with being authentic

Type 4: The Individualist

Fours are individualists who tend to be highly creative, self-reflective, and emotional. Fours are deeply attuned to the inner world of feelings and tend to experience emotions in a more pronounced way. Healthy fours usually have creative outlets they use to express these strong emotions and may have a penchant for creative expression.

When imbalanced, the individualist personality type can become emotionally unstable. This can result in mental health issues related to depression, low self-esteem, and addiction. Unhealthy fours often have stormy relationships that reflect the internal turmoil they feel. They may become too focused on their emotions and suffering that it becomes difficult for them to connect with others. For this reason, fours need strong and healthy social relationships to keep them balanced.

The Enneagram type 4 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Introspective, emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and highly creative
• Weaknesses: Dramatic, hypersensitive, moody, self-absorbed, and prone to self-pity
• Basic Fears: Feelings of emptiness, loss of identity, being misunderstood, feeling ashamed
• Basic Desires: Authenticity, emotional expression, being special or unique
• Tendencies: Melancholy, social withdrawal, self-consciousness
• With 3 wing (4W3): More extraverted, social, and goal-oriented or task-driven
• With 5 wing (4W5): More introverted, self-reflective, analytical, and intellectual

Type 5: The Investigator

Fives are called the investigators because of their natural inquisitiveness. Fives are the most cerebral of the Enneagram personalities and are often portrayed as deep thinkers, philosophers, and intellectuals. Fives hunger for knowledge and are often avid readers, keen observers, and people who have complex theories about life. The quest for knowledge and understanding is usually a primary theme in their life and career.

Because of the five’s ability for deep thought, they have a tendency to get lost in their inner world of ideas. This can limit them in many ways, especially socially. More than any other type, fives struggle to form meaningful relationships and can become detached and withdrawn. When they don’t ground their ideas in reality, they can become out of touch. Strong relationships and work-life balance can help fives stay grounded and healthy.

The Enneagram type 5 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Thoughtful, observant, intellectually curious, and impartial
• Weaknesses: Detached, emotional numbness, insensitive, impractical, eccentric, condescending
• Basic Fears: Confusion, misdirection, and being wrong
• Basic Desires: Wisdom, knowledge, and deep understanding
• Tendencies: Deep thinking, reflection, researching, and academia
• With 4 wing (5W4): More extraverted, impulsive, unconventional, and dramatic
• With 6 wing (5W6): More introverted, cautious, deliberate, and objective

Type 6: The Loyalist/The Skeptic

Sixes are labeled as loyalists or skeptics. Sixes earn their name because they are motivated to seek security and honor their commitments, but they also have a tendency to be suspicious of other people. Sixes tend to be reliable and hard-working and are often highly skilled at problem-solving. A six is often someone who can be counted on until the bitter end, demonstrating the loyal nature of these personalities.

More than any other archetype, the Enneagram Six is a conflicted personality that can be either incredibly loyal or mistrustful. Because they care so much about being able to depend on other people, they can be critical of people who don’t live up to their expectations. This can strain their relationships and make them difficult to deal with, especially when they feel betrayed. Sixes benefit from support and guidance but also need to become more independent to stay healthy.

The Enneagram type 5 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Strong-willed, loyal, analytical, and resourceful
• Weaknesses: Stubborn, suspicious, defensive, and difficult
• Basic Fears: Abandonment issues, being hurt, or betrayed by other people
• Basic Desires: Security and stability, consistent routines, and secure attachments
• Tendencies: Loyalty, critical thinking, problem-solving, and defensiveness
• With 5 wing (6W5): More introverted, rigid, and introspective
• With 7 wing (6W7): More extraverted, playful, and easy-going

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Sevens are the enthusiasts of the Enneagram and tend to be high-energy personalities. They’re known to be playful and spontaneous types and are often described as the ‘life of the party’. Enthusiasts are driven by a desire to live their lives to the fullest, making the most of each moment.

When sevens aren’t balanced, they can become scattered, disorganized, and stretched in too many different directions. They may start projects and never finish them, make promises they don’t keep, or fall behind on their work. Under stress, many enthusiasts become scattered and impulsive, and their lives and relationships become more unmanageable. To remain healthy, many sevens benefit from a reasonable amount of structure, routine, and consistency.

The Enneagram type 7 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Playful, energetic, fun, spontaneous, adaptable
• Weaknesses: Impulsivity, disorganized, unfocused, impatient, and unreliable
• Basic Fears: Commitment, being bored, stale and unfulfilling routines
• Basic Desires: Happiness, fulfillment, adventure
• Tendencies: Spontaneity, improv, adventure seeking
• With 6 wing (7W6): More extraverted, spontaneous, and reward-seeking
• With 8 wing (7W8): More introverted, disciplined, intense, and driven

Type 8: The Challenger

Eights in the Enneagram are portrayed by the challenger and often possess strong, bold, and confident personalities. Challengers are driven by a desire to control their lives and aren’t afraid to put in the work when there is something they want and are known to use their power and persuasion to make things happen in life. They’re often born leaders and aren’t likely to sit around waiting for things to be handed to them.

Eights can become imbalanced without strong guiding principles and morals. Their oppositional nature can make them stubborn and too proud to admit their mistakes. Eights often struggle with authority and may have frequent conflicts stemming from a fear of being controlled. They also tend to be emotionally unavailable, especially when under stress. Eights can remain balanced by holding onto their values and staying open to the people they care about.

The Enneagram type 8 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Fierce, rebellious, brave, resilient, protective, and independent
• Weaknesses: Brash, withdrawn, confrontational, stubborn, and proud
• Basic Fears: Being controlled, stuck, trapped, or limited
• Basic Desires: Independence, freedom, power over their life/circumstances
• Tendencies: Confrontational, guarded, trail-blazing, frequent interpersonal conflicts
• With 7 wing (8W7): More extraverted, playful, intense, and adventurous
• With 9 wing (8W9): More introverted, protective, loyal, dependable, and steady

Type 9: The Peacemaker/Mediator

Nines in the Enneagram are portrayed as peacemakers or mediators because they have a natural talent for diplomacy. Nines are naturally social, have an agreeableness to them, and easy to talk to, making them people magnets with large social networks. They are conflict-averse by nature and earn their name because of their natural gift of helping to mediate conflicts and keep the peace, helping people work collaboratively together.

Nines are driven by a desire for harmony, but this can become so avoidant of conflict that they stop learning and growing. This can show up as chronic procrastination, laziness, and resistance to putting effort into their goals. Nines need to have goals, self-discipline, and a willingness to leave their comfort zones in order to stay healthy and balanced.

The Enneagram type 9 personality features the following characteristics:

• Strengths: Optimistic, trusting, diplomatic, socially fluent, agreeable, easy-going
• Weaknesses: Lazy, complacent, exhibits avoidance behavior, and unmotivated
• Basic Fears: Conflict, discomfort, breakdown of community
• Basic Desires: Harmony, serenity, relaxation, positivity, and unity
• Tendencies: Conflict avoidance, diplomacy, cooperation, and acceptance
• With 8 wing (9W8): More extraverted, boisterous, assertive, and energetic
• With 1 wing (9W1): More introverted, disciplined, reserved, steady, and organized

The Three Triads of Enneagram Types

One of the primary frameworks built into the Enneagram to divide personality types by dominant traits is the three triads. The three triads (triangles) that make up the Enneagram represent personality types that are governed most by either the head, the heart, or the body/gut. This means that your Enneagram type corresponds to one of these primary modes, which influences the way you experience and respond to situations in your life. ⁴

The three triads of Enneagram types are: ^1,4

The Gut/Body Triad

The gut triad includes types eight, nine, and one and describes personality types that rely most on their physical and bodily sensations. These three Enneagram types are most connected to their bodies and rely on physical sensations and even intuitive ‘gut feelings’ to help them know what to do. Physical movement and exercise may be especially important for eights, nines, and ones to regulate their emotions and keep their energy high.

The Heart Triad

The heart triad includes types two, three, and four and includes personality types that rely the most on social and emotional information. This means that these personalities are more likely to experience life emotionally and also have a deeper need for love and connection. Finding healthy methods of expressing emotions and connecting with other people is important for personalities governed by the heart. People with these personality types often have a deeper capacity for empathy and high emotional intelligence.

The Head Triad

The head triad includes types five, six, and seven and describes personalities who are driven by intellectual curiosity and a desire to understand the way the world works. These personalities are most connected to the mind and the realm of theories. They tend to ‘get in their head too much’, especially when stressed. Staying grounded and practicing mindfulness to remain present helps to keep these cerebral types balanced. People with personalities in this triad are often highly intelligent and have a hunger for learning.

The History of the Enneagram

The Enneagram is an ancient Sufi system, but its exact origins are unknown.¹  The current Enneagram system is often credited to the work of South American philosopher Oscar Ichazo and psychiatrists Claudio Naranjo and John Lilly. While they did not develop the Enneagram, these men collaborated in the 1970s to organize the Enneagram into the framework that is currently used today. ^1,4,6

Since then, the Enneagram has been applied to psychology, spirituality, and even medicine as a possible method to understand personality traits and even mental illnesses. Some experts even claim the Enneagram is a tool for spiritual development. From this perspective, each of the nine points represents an access point that can unlock higher states of consciousness. Others are less convinced that the Enneagram has a spiritual or mystical utility and instead see it as a helpful tool to assess and understand different personalities.³

Benefits of the Enneagram

Identifying and learning about your Enneagram type can provide insight into the underlying drives and motivations you have, which can help with decision-making and goal-setting. By making you more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, you can be more intentional about using them in ways that help you reach your goals.

Because of its usefulness in helping people become more self-aware, the Enneagram has become popular with therapists, job coaches, and even corporations interested in helping their employees learn more about themselves.^1,3,5 The Enneagram can also provide interesting insight for people hoping to understand their relationship patterns, and learning about other people’s types can help you better understand how to interact with them.^2,4,6

Criticism of the Enneagram

The Enneagram is sometimes criticized for being too spiritual or ‘new age’. However, studies have confirmed that it has the essential elements of a valid personality test, although there is less evidence to support the subtypes. The Enneagram does not have the same level of internal validity and reliability as other personality tests, and some critics argue there isn’t evidence for all nine Enneagram types. ^2,3,7

The Enneagram is also criticized because it’s not always possible to get a clear answer about what type you are. While the RHETI is the most reliable test for the Enneagram, it can sometimes provide mixed results that require people to read about multiple types to identify their primary type. ^2,7

Understanding Your Personality

Your personality is comprised of specific traits, tendencies, and patterns that form in childhood and adolescence and mostly remain the same throughout your life. For example, introverted people may develop better social skills later in life but will always prefer more alone time than a natural extrovert. While your behavior can be changed, your personality reflects core traits that persist throughout your lifespan.^2,6

Potential benefits of learning more about your personality type include: ^1,2,3,4,6

• Understand and cope with difficult thoughts and feelings
• Identify underlying needs, wants, and preferences
• Figure out the primary drives and motivators of your actions
• Find ways to balance out exaggerated traits or tendencies
• Learn ways to make up for natural deficits or weaknesses you have
• Relate, communicate, and connect in healthier ways with other people
• Find ways to increase personal meaning and fulfillment in life
• Identify careers, activities and tasks that align with your skills and abilities
• Avoid bad habits and stuck points that you tend to fall into

In My Experience

In my experience, the Enneagram is a powerful tool that can aid in the process of self-discovery, and I have personal experience using this in my therapy practice. While not every trait and tendency applies, most people are surprised at how accurately the Enneagram describes their personality. Still, it’s important not to try to explain everything about yourself with the Enneagram or any other personality test since these can’t begin to capture the complexity of what makes you who you are. Instead, consider using this in conjunction with other tools like the Big Five, MBTI, Jungian archetypes, strengths finder, and other methods for learning more about yourself and your patterns