ENNEAGRAM TYPES

The Enneagram suggests that human beings essentially fall into one of nine different personality types. Each type has a central motivating compulsion which leads the person to respond to reality in a certain patterned way. The nine basic types are as follows:

1. The Perfectionist: Idealistic, principled, orderly and conscientious people. Motivated by their need to be right and to be balanced, they are fearful of being bad or defective.

2. The Helper: Caring, generous, warm and attentive people. Motivated by their need to be needed and loved, they are fearful of not being worthy of being loved.

3. The Achiever: Self-confident, adaptable, energetic and outgoing people. Motivated by their need to succeed and be the centre of attention, they are fearful of failure and of being worthless.

4. The Artist: Intuitive, creative, sensitive and expressively warm people. Motivated by their need to be special and be understood, they are fearful of being misunderstood.

5. The Observer: Analytical, perceptive, reflective and self-contained people. Motivated by their need to know and understand, they are fearful of meaninglessness and of being considered incapable.

6. The Supporter: Loyal, dutiful, hospitable and caring people. Motivated by their need for security and belonging, they are fearful of making mistakes and of not being able to survive on their own.

7. The Optimist: Fun-loving, gregarious, impulsive and charming people with many irons in the fire. Motivated by their need to be happy, they are fearful of pain and deprivation.

8. The Leader: Resourceful, self-confident, energetic and earthy people. Motivated by their need to be in control, they are fearful of being vulnerable and at the mercy of others.

9. The Mediator: Calm, laid-back, unpretentious and reassuring people. Motivated by their need to be calm and at peace, they are fearful of conflict, separation from others and losing peace of mind.