The Enneagram:
Nine Pathways of Self-Management

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AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENNEAGRAM
by Eric J Wheeler

While it is true that as human beings we are all somewhat alike, it is our differences that create the zest and flavor that makes life worth living. However, these differences can be puzzling and lead to chronic conflict and stress in relationships. The insights and compassion generated through understanding of one's habitual unconscious attention style can heal wounds and deepen understanding and compassion.

The Enneagram is a system of personality typology that combines psychology and spirituality in the search for self-awareness and self-acceptance. Based on an ancient understanding of spiritual growth, this approach describes nine different personality types and how each has a distinct way of viewing self and others. Study of the Enneagram can improve relationships with family, friends and co-workers as well as enhance one's spiritual journey of self-discovery. The Enneagram can be particularly helping in identifying the strengths and weaknesses in intimate relationships.

One of the most important distinctions of the Enneagram system compared to other personality typologies is that the Enneagram helps us identify the underlying motivation that fuels our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. These motivations are often unconscious to us. Becoming aware of this driving psychic energy in ourselves and in others can be extremely helpful in creating a harmonious and productive environment in our personal lives.

Although seemingly rather simple, the Enneagram identifies nine distinct ways of being in the world. There is enough depth and nuance to the system to provide ongoing opportunities for growth and improvement. Like many psychological systems, the Enneagram recognizes both nature and nurture in determining our personality. In other words, our personality is a composite of the inherent nature that we bring in to the world when we are born as well as the external influence of our parents and others in our early years. Most child development theorists agree that we have essentially become who we are psychologically by the time we are 2 to 6 years of age. Recognizing the patterns that were established early in life can help us to be more expansive and flexible as adults in our interactions in family and with our intimate partner. The Enneagram provides a way to recognize these patterns.

Sometimes the Enneagram system is criticized for exploring the negative aspects of personality styles. If we are honest with ourselves, we can accept the fact that we have both strengths and weaknesses in the ways that we interact with others and feel about ourselves. Identifying and becoming aware of counter-productive ways of thinking, feeling and acting can be very helpful in improving our functioning with family, friends and fellow workers. In fact, it is often under stress that the core defense mechanisms of our personality style aremost apparent and problematic. The Enneagram helps us to identify these self-defeating traits and become aware when they begin to take control of our emotions. Through this observation we can become more accepting of our own gifts and challenges as well as those of others. Attention to these fundamental aspects of character can greatly improve understanding and harmony in our relationships.

Another key distinguishing feature of the Enneagram system is that in this system we type ourselves. The best Enneagram tests are those that are subjective and not geared to quantitative measurement. Although it is valuable to get feedback and response from others who know us well, ultimately the responsibility for identifying our type is ours alone. The best way to learn about the types in the system and find our own Enneagram type is to listen to and observe others as they describe themselves. By observing the self-disclosure of people who represent the nine different points of view we can more easily recognize the pattern of attention that is most like our own. This is the heart of what is called the narrative tradition of the Enneagram as taught by many of the best known Enneagram teachers. In the teaching of the narrative tradition, people who know their type sit on panels and talk about what is it like to think, feel and act from their point of view. In observing these panelists the Enneagram becomes alive as a very sophisticated system of understanding patterns of human personality. After attentive observation of others and patient inner awareness of ourselves we can identify what the pattern of our attention is. Sometimes this can take a very long time. But the benefits of understanding that other people have very different ways of looking at themselves and the world can be immediate and transformational.

HISTORY:

The Enneagram symbol itself is ancient. "Enneagram" is actually a Greek word meaning "chart of nine". Fifth century BC Greek scholars described the "rule of three" and the "rule of seven", the mathematical underpinning of the Enneagram symbol. The use of the symbol to define patterns of human behavior is found in teachings from the historic traditions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but the original source of the Enneagram is unknown. Since nothing about the Enneagram as a personality typology was written until the 20th century, the mystery of the source of the Enneagram may never be solved. Suffice it to say that the teaching of the Enneagram has centuries old roots in three important monotheistic traditions.

The modern interpretation of the Enneagram came to the West and broader awareness through the work of the Armenian mystic and teacher George I Gurdjieff. Later in the 20th century Oscar Ichazo, a Chilean teacher and philosopher, developed the Enneagram of personality that is taught today. The system was later refined as a personality typology by the Bolivian psychologist Claudio Naranjo who came to California in the late 1960s and taught the system to several students in the early 1970s. The teaching spread from the American west coast to many parts of the US and Europe. Today dozens of books have been published and the Enneagram is slowly making its way into the mainstream through a broad array of applications to leadership, communication, relationships and personal development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NINE ENNEAGRAM TYPES:

TYPE ONE: "THE PERFECTIONIST" is conscientious, moral, honest and idealistic. Their focus is on doing the right thing and avoiding error. They can be preachy, resentful and critical.

TYPE TWO: "THE GIVER" is helpful, empathetic, supportive and nurturing. Their focus is on meeting the needs of others. They can be possessive, prideful and manipulative.

TYPE THREE: "THE ACHIEVER" is competent, competitive, efficient and energetic. Their focus is on success and avoiding failure. They can be superficial, vain and deceptive.

TYPE FOUR: "THE ROMANTIC" is sensitive, creative, passionate and distinctive. Their focus is on finding authenticity and deep meaning. They can be envious, moody and melancholic.

TYPE FIVE: "THE OBSERVER" is private, analytical, measured and self-reliant. Their focus is on gathering information and avoiding intrusion from others. They can be stingy, detached and withdrawn.

TYPE SIX: "THE QUESTIONER" is thoughtful, loyal, dutiful and intuitive. Their focus is on creating predictability and avoiding danger. They can be paranoid, doubtful and suspicious.

TYPE SEVEN: "THE ADVENTURER" is optimistic, charming, spontaneous and fun-loving. Their focus is on the pleasurable possibilities in the world. They can be restless, impulsive and cavalier.

TYPE EIGHT: "THE PROTECTOR" is assertive, confident, direct and intense. Their focus is on power and control and avoiding weakness. They can be ruthless, punitive and excessive.

TYPE NINE: "THE MEDIATOR" is peaceful, easy-going, adaptive and patient. Their focus is on creating harmony and avoiding conflict. They can be indecisive, lazy and stubborn.

Copyright © 2009 Eric J. Wheeler.  All rights reserved.