Type 1 Enneagram: What it Means to be the Perfectionist

What Is the Type 1 Enneagram Personality?

The Enneagram test measures personality based on nine different styles, all centered around three main areas of intelligence: emotional, mental, and instinctive. Each of the nine Enneagram types are based on a combination of our unconscious desires and how we present them to the world around us.¹ The type 1 Enneagram personality is the personality type that is known as “The Perfectionist” due to their avoidance of mistakes, careful attention to detail, and tendency to follow rules.²

This test is not a matter of better or worse, just how we are different. Each of the nine different types have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Personality traits of type 1 Enneagrams include:

• Rigid thinking
• Serious
• Attention to detail
• High internal standards
• Hard working
• Detail oriented
• High standards
• Intense ability to concentrate
• Honest
• Responsible
• Highly effective teacher
• Straightforward

Basic Fears of Enneagram One

Some of the basic fears of Enneagram One personalities include being seen in a negative light, or as someone with flaws or imperfections. In order to cope with this fear, they are very hard on themselves, and often become perfectionists in their everyday lives. This often comes across as rigidity due to how disciplined they are and their difficulty with imperfections.

Basic Desires of Enneagram One

The basic desires of Enneagram type 1 personalities are to be considered a positive influence on others and their own lives. They desire to be seen as a highly moral person, and for their behaviors and actions to reflect that.

Key Motivations of Enneagram One

Someone with an Enneagram One personality is motivated to be known as honorable and as someone who was known for having integrity and being responsible.¹ A person’s motivations are often paramount to their overall personality.

How Rare Are Type 1 Enneagram Personalities?

It can be difficult to assess how many people belong to each of the nine Enneagram categories, but it is estimated that type 1s are about 10% of the population.² There are also no known gender differences with type 1s, with this personality type existing equally among different genders.²

Understanding Type 1 Enneagram In-Depth

Type 1s are known for being thorough and detail oriented in their work, and will see that the job or project is complete without cutting corners. Due to their high moral and ethical standards, they have a strong sense of responsibility that shows in their professional as well as personal life.

They are efficient and honest, and will follow through when they make a commitment. They are not known for trying to manipulate a situation, because their strong sense of integrity gives them a sense of duty.²

Sometimes called “The Reformer,”  they are known for being scheduled, punctual, and influencing others around them in a positive way. They often feel a strong sense of responsibility for others around them, including family, and believe that it is their duty to hold everything together.²

Core Values of Enneagram Ones

Being responsible and accountable are of the utmost importance to those with a type 1 personality, because these values represent how they want the world to see them. Type 1’s pride themselves on having integrity, as well as being seen as loyal and fair.¹

Enneagram type 1’s typically possess these core values:

• Strong sense of responsibility: They have a strong sense of responsibility and will ensure that any task or project given to them will be completed thoroughly.
• A strong desire to improve: They are always evaluating themselves for areas of growth or potential.
• A need for their actions to be consistent with their goals: Due to their strong sense of morality and integrity, they pride themselves on being consistent and presenting well.
• Strong willed: They present as strong and confident to others around them.
• Loyalty: Type 1s are known for being loyal, both in their friend and family groups, but also at work or in other environments.
• Honesty: This personality type is known for their honesty, which shows in their work and in their communication.

The Body Triad

The Enneagram body triad is a group of three Enneagram personality types that make up the “body based triad,” along with type eight and type nine.³ These three personality types have a similar core emotion and motivation of anger, “which type 1s cope with by designing their lives around order and control.”³

Type 1 Enneagram Wings

Enneagram Wings are when someone possesses enough characteristics from another personality type that it changes their type somewhat, so they are not a full type 1. For example, they may score in a type 1, but have enough elements from type two or type nine to seem like the personality traits almost merge.

Enneagram Type 1 Wing 9

Enneagram Type 1 Wing 9 personalities are like a combination of type 1 and type 9 personality characteristics. The elements from type 9 make them calmer than most type 1s, while still possessing a strong sense of morality and ethics.² Because they are less rigid than regular type 1s, they are more open to other’s perspectives or ideas.²

Enneagram Type 1 Wing 2

This personality type has all of the personality characteristics found in type 1, but they also possess many of the personality characteristics of type 2 as well. Using their strong sense of ethics and integrity, and bringing elements of social justice from type 2, this personality type is often seen as a helper.²

Recognizing Enneagram One

Although it is impossible to know for sure what Enneagram type someone is without them telling you, it can be easy to identify others who seem to fit certain personality types. Some signs that someone else is an Enneagram One personality are: strong attention to detail, honesty, high sense of morality, punctuality, and strong integrity.

Which Celebrities Have Type 1 Personalities?

There are many celebrities or political figures who are known for having personality traits that appear to put them in the role of a type 1. Those who are seen as over-achieving and highly driven have many of the same qualities as a type 1.

Famous Enneagram type 1’s include:²

• Michelle Obama
• Steve Jobs
• Martha Stewart
• Tina Fey
• Nelson Mandela
• Hilary Clinton
• Ruth Bader Ginsberg
• Emma Watson

Type 1 Enneagram in Relationships

Because type 1s are known for being hard on themselves, they can also be hard on others in their life. Therefore, being in a relationship with someone who has a type 1 personality can be stressful if the person does not have self-awareness and thus makes their partner feel bad.

Compatibility With Other Enneagram Types

The Enneagram type 2 personalities are more compatible with type 1. Type 1’s bring stability and a feeling of safety to type 2s, who often struggle with low self esteem and abandonment worries.⁴

In contrast, the types that are less compatible with type 1s include Type 7s due to conflicting priorities. Type 7s struggle with commitment, and are more impulsive, which can be frustrating for a type 1.⁴

Type 1 Enneagram Habits & Behaviors

Because all personality traits exist on a spectrum, all personalities have healthy, unhealthy, and average or neutral attributes. Due to this, what is seen as a strength in a healthy form, such as attention to detail, can be a weakness when it manifests in an unhealthy way, such as being controlling or sacrificing one’s mental health for work.

Healthy Type 1 Enneagram Habits & Behaviors

When someone with a type 1 is operating at their healthiest, they are able to channel the strengths of their personality into positive ways. They can act as a leader of a project, but are able to delegate tasks to others instead of doing it all for them. For example, they may use their skills of being detail oriented in a job as an editor or reviewer.

At their healthiest, they are able to apply their strong ethics and morality into improving themselves and others, achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Common Type 1 Enneagram Habits & Behaviors

Some common type 1 Enneagram habits and behaviors are taking ownership of duties at work, but being known for doing more than their share. When others are sloppy or not detail oriented in their work, type 1s will sometimes jump in and redo the work so it is done correctly. They will sometimes ignore their mental health or emotional needs in order to complete work perfectly.

Unhealthy Type 1 Enneagram Habits & Behaviors

Due to their strong need for control, type 1s are prone to coming across harshly to others when this element of their personality is unhealthy. When someone with a type 1 personality is operating in an unhealthy way, it often manifests as controlling and rigid, as well as being overbearing and unable or unwilling to compromise.

Personal Growth for Enneagram Type 1s

If you find that your type 1 personality manifests  more on the unhealthy side, there are things you can do to grow into a healthier version of yourself. Being more forgiving, as well as practicing kindness towards yourself are some great ways to start.

If perfectionism, rigidity, or other parts of your personality are preventing you from living a fulfilling life, therapy can help. Look for a therapist who can help you with personal growth. There are many online therapy options that are good resources for this type of support.

8 ways to grow as a type 1 Enneagram include:

1. Be understanding: Try to be understanding of others. This can be when working on a work project, or just being a friend and family member.
2. Be kinder to yourself: Take extra effort in being kind to yourself. Go easy when working hard to meet a deadline, and be sure to reward yourself after with rest and relaxation.
3. Be more forgiving of others’ mistakes: Mistakes can be a difficult thing to manage for type 1s, due to the inner shame and frustration that manifest. Try being more forgiving of mistakes in others.
4. Be open to feedback: By being open to receiving feedback from friends and loved ones, you will be able to be more understanding about how hard you are on them.
5. Take time to self-reflect:Through self reflection, we are able to examine the areas where we may be hard on ourselves or others.
6. Practice self care: As type 1s are known for being hard on themselves, taking time for self care is essential so you do not burn out.
7. Remember that perfection doesn’t exist: Because many Type 1s are striving for a level of perfection that is impossible to achieve, they often struggle with stress and overwork.
8. Use your skills as an advantage: Because of your natural tendency to be loyal and honest, others will see you as an influential person or even a leader.