History UsefulNotes / TheEnneagram

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be incompetent or helpless to defend themselves against the external world, and as such they retreat inward, striving to feel capable by developing keen insight and awareness of how the world works. This usually makes them come off detached, living in their heads and pursuing knowledge relentlessly and [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork for its own sake]] -- no matter how arcane, impractical, or incomprehensible to others. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]], [[InsufferableGenius insufferably arrogant]], or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.
* '''Sixes/Loyalists/Skeptics''' ''(superego)'' are one of the more confusing types, being an uneasy compromise between a creature-comforts person and a devil's advocate with an overactive SpiderSense. Both behaviors stem from their Basic Fear of lacking security; they constantly anticipate attacks which will deprive them of the things and/or people they love. Sixes tend to see themselves as TheEveryman and prioritize their allies, communities, or heroes over themselves; their fear of being targeted makes them prone to TallPoppySyndrome. They can be suspicious of and even lash out against authorities, but once they find one they do trust, they will show UndyingLoyalty, even [[BlindObedience when it's a bad idea]]. The healthy ones are egalitarian salt-of-the-earth types who, to quote the old {{meme|ticMutation}}, "doesn't afraid of anything."
* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl, or for males the Literature/PeterPan. They are frequently TheHedonist and love new experiences, freedom and the possibility of "the next thing," living and thinking at a fast pace and often coming off [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]]. Having said that, their Basic Fear is of being deprived or in pain, and all that activity, sensation and future focus is a way to distract themselves from painful reality. They bury that fear or outrun that emotion by any means possible -- a task that never ends, and can result in a avalanche of new experiences with which they are never satisfied and never fully partake. An unhealthy Seven can become a MoodSwinger whose pain catches up to them suddenly and dramatically, or a {{Manchild}} wasting their potential on self-gratification. At their best, though, they cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Many comedians are Sevens, and paradoxically, so are many [[SadClown Sad Clowns]].

* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. Naturally, this also means they judge not only themselves but others for falling short of these standards, which can resemble TheSnarkKnight. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can slip into hypocrisy or be a PrinciplesZealot or even a KnightTemplar or WellIntentionedExtremist -- after all, nobody said those standards had to be ''good''.

The ''real'' complexity comes from the "Direction of Integration" and "Direction of Disintegration." This theory states that, when a person is under stress, they start displaying the ''negative'' traits of the type they "disintegrate" to. For instance, Ones fall to Four, meaning that a One who is having a bad day will start to brood, wallow in self-pity, and question their identity the way a Four does. Conversely, the Direction of Integration describes which type a happy person starts [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin integrating the]] ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin positive]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin traits of]]. Ones rise to Seven; a One who has managed to make peace with his/her own flaws will not only feel joyful and optimistic, but give themselves permission to enjoy life more. The Direction of Disintegration is simply the Direction of Integration backwards. Thus the lines you see in the Enneagram circle diagram. Integration for each type is as follows (there are two circuits):

A hallmark of the Enneagram is that it does not try to insist that only one enneatype can achieve a certain type of interaction. In fact, every person has ''all'' nine enneatypes in play to varying degrees, with different facets coming out at different times, which may make it hard to figure out what type your base is besides taking a measuring test. Even worse, no one type has a monopoly on any given trait or facet. If you like to lead, for instance, the obvious answer is that you are an Eight (from their urge to show their strength), but Sixes and Ones can have their moments as well - Sixes out of their loyalty and confronting fear, and Ones for getting things done right. Fours are wildly creative, drawing from their introspection and self-awareness, but Fives have it too, from their perceptions of the world, and Nines from their idle, daydreaming imaginations.

* '''Twos/Helpers''' ''(superego)'' are kind, generous and often selfless, which is their backwards way of hoping that somebody will be nice to them and get ''their'' needs met. "LoveHungry", or perhaps "DesperatelyCravesAffection," is their Basic Fear. They like feeling needed and, at their worst, can be manipulative or [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive of the people they care about]] to ensure they're depended on. They can also forget how to please themselves (LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces is a major theme of the Enneagram). On the other hand, a healthy Two is a model of [[LoveYouAndEverybody altruism and]] [[AllLovingHero unconditional love]].

* '''Fours/Individualists/Romantics''' ''(ego)'' are the reason TrueArtIsAngsty. Their Basic Fear is that they have no identity or personal significance, that [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair the world will forget them when they're gone]]. This fear expresses itself as a belief that something is fundamentally wrong with them and that they are inextricably different from others, and Fours take almost a sense of pride in that: they build their extremely particular identity around these beliefs of alienness -- which can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Fours can channel this sensitivity into their creative output... or they may become the stereotypical MadArtist who thinks no one understands them and may be DrivenToSuicide. When they aren't cutting off their own ears, they are luminary and visionary creators, helping make sense of the senseless world around them.

* '''Sixes/Loyalists/Skeptics''' ''(superego)'' are one of the more confusing types, being an uneasy compromise between a creature-comforts person and a devil's advocate with an overactive SpiderSense. Both behaviors stem from their Basic Fear of lacking security; they constantly anticipate attacks which will deprive them of the things and/or people they love. Sixes tend to see themselves as TheEveryman and prioritize their allies, communities, or authorities over themselves; their fear of being targeted makes them prone to TallPoppySyndrome. They are naturally suspicious of authority, but once they find one they do trust, they will show UndyingLoyalty, even [[BlindObedience when it's a bad idea]]. The healthy ones, to quote the old {{meme|ticMutation}}, "doesn't afraid of anything."
* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl, or for males the Literature/PeterPan. They love new experiences, living and thinking at a fast pace (sometimes coming off [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]]), and are frequently TheHedonist. At their best they cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, their Basic Fear is of being deprived or in pain, and all that activity and sensation is a way to distract themselves from pain by any means possible, to bury that fear or outrun that emotion -- a task that never ends, and can result in an avalanche of new experiences with which they are never satisfied and never fully partake. Many comedians are Sevens, and paradoxically, so are many [[SadClown Sad Clowns]].

* '''Eights/Challengers/Leaders''' ''(id)'' have a lot in common with the MamaBear trope, except that the person they are trying to protect is themselves. The Eight's Basic Fear is being harmed or controlled by others, and that has driven them to be [[HotBlooded brash, bold and confident in themselves]]. Of course, they can also get confrontational and domineering; they may have trouble controlling their tempers and with being vulnerable to others. They make the best leaders, but also the best bullies, and are by far the most likely to employ the "TakingYouWithMe" trope.
* '''Nines/Peacemakers''' ''(ego)'' just want everyone to get along. Their Basic Fear, of [[PleaseDontLeaveMe having to undergo separation and loss]], causes them to have [[TheEmpath a lot of empathy]] and do whatever they can to promote harmony and well-being. At their worst, this turns them into a StepfordSmiler or a passive-aggressive ExtremeDoormat who goes into denial if anything goes wrong. However, they can also be ThePollyanna, accepting, trusting and refreshingly optimistic. Most AllLovingHero characters will often fall into this category.

* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. Naturally, this also means they judge not only themselves but others for falling short of these standards, which can resemble TheSnarkKnight. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a {{hypocrite|e}}, a PrinciplesZealot or even a KnightTemplar or WellIntentionedExtremist -- after all, nobody said those standards had to be ''good''.

* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. Naturally, this also means they judge not only themselves but others for falling short of these standards, which can resemble TheSnarkKnight. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a {{hypocrite|e}, a PrinciplesZealot or even a KnightTemplar or WellIntentionedExtremist -- after all, nobody said those standards had to be ''good''.

* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. Naturally, this also means they judge not only themselves but others for falling short of these standards, which can resemble TheSnarkKnight. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a {{hypocrit|e}}ical PrinciplesZealot or even a KnightTemplar or WellIntentionedExtremist -- after all, nobody said those standards had to be ''good''.

* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl, or for males the Literature/PeterPan. They love new experiences, living and thinking at a fast pace (sometimes coming off [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]]), and are frequently TheHedonist. At their best they cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, their Basic Fear is of being deprived or in pain, and all that activity and sensation is a way to distract themselves from pain by any means possible, to bury that fear or outrun that emotion -- a task that never ends, and can result in an avalanche of new experiences with which they are never satisfied and never fully partake. Many comedians are Sevens, and paradoxically, so are many {{SadClown}}s.

* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl, or for males the Literature/PeterPan. They love new experiences, living and thinking at a fast pace (sometimes coming off [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]]), and are frequently TheHedonist. At their best they cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, their Basic Fear is of being deprived or in pain, and all that activity and sensation is a way to distract themselves from pain by any means possible, to bury that fear or outrun that emotion -- a task that never ends, and can result in an avalanche of new experiences with which they are never satisfied and never fully partake. Many comedians are Sevens, and paradoxically, so are many SadClowns.

* '''Twos/Helpers''' ''(superego)'' are kind, generous and often selfless, which is their backwards way of hoping that somebody will be nice to them and get ''their'' needs met. "LoveHungry", or perhaps "DesperatelyCravesAffection," is their Basic Fear. They like feeling needed and can get [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive of the people they care about]], and sometimes forget how to please themselves (LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces is a major theme of the Enneagram). On the other hand, a healthy Two is a model of [[LoveYouAndEverybody altruism and]] [[AllLovingHero unconditional love]].
* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them successful and/or popular; think [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame, or the plight of the SadClown or BrokenAce. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three. Despite their apparently high self-esteem, [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex they actually feel a lot less confident than they let on]], and can become LonelyAtTheTop.
* '''Fours/Individualists/Romantics''' ''(ego)'' are the reason TrueArtIsAngsty. Their Basic Fear is that they have no identity or personal significance, that [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair the world will forget them when they're gone]]. They are sensitive and self-aware, looking inwards for meaning, and express themselves with their prolific creative output... Or they may become the stereotypical MadArtist who thinks no one understands them and may be DrivenToSuicide. When they aren't cutting off their own ears, they are luminary and visionary creators, helping make sense of the senseless world around them.

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be incompetent or helpless to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop ([[{{Troll}} or start]]) wars with a single well-placed remark. They may pursue knowledge relentlessly and [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork for its own sake]], no matter how arcane, impractical, or incomprehensible to others. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]], [[InsufferableGenius insufferably arrogant]], or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.

* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl. They love new experiences, as borne out of their Basic Fear of being deprived or in pain, and cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, they can get [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]], and sometimes even withdraw from life entirely, burying fear in an avalanche of experience in which they are (in fact) too scared to actually partake. (Also, despite the trope attributions, Sevens can be males; in fact, one of the common names for this type is The Literature/PeterPan.)

* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. Naturally, this also means they judge not only themselves but others for falling short of these standards, which can resemble TheSnarkKnight. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a BrokenAce or a {{hypocrit|e}}ical KnightTemplar.

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be incompetent or helpless to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop ([[{{Troll}} or start]]) wars with a single well-placed remark. They pursue knowledge relentlessly and [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork for its own sake]], no matter how arcane, impractical, or incomprehensible to others. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]], [[InsufferableGenius insufferably arrogant]], or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be incompetent or helpless to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop ([[{{Troll}} or start]]) wars with a single well-placed remark. They pursue knowledge relentlessly and [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork for its own sake]], no matter how arcane, impractical, or incomprehensible to others. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]], [[Insufferable Genius insufferably arrogant]], or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; think [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame, or the plight of the SadClown or BrokenAce. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three. Despite their apparently high self-esteem, [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex they actually feel a lot less confident than they let on]], and can become LonelyAtTheTop.

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be incompetent or helpless to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop ([[{{Troll}} or start]]) wars with a single well-placed remark. They pursue knowledge relentlessly and [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork for its own sake]], no matter how arcane, impractical, or incomprehensible to others. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners], [[Insufferable Genius insufferably arrogant]], or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; think [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame, or the plight of the SadClown or a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three. Despite their apparently high self-esteem, [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex they actually feel a lot less confident than they let on]], and are prone to becoming the BrokenAce.

* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' ''(ego)'' are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be helpless or unable to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop ([[{{Troll}} or start]]) wars with a single well-placed remark. Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]] or {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.
* '''Sixes/Loyalists/Skeptics''' ''(superego)'' are one of the more confusing types, being an uneasy compromise between a creature-comforts person and a devil's advocate with an overactive SpiderSense. Both behaviors stem from their Basic Fear of lacking security; they constantly anticipate attacks which will deprive them of the things and/or people they love. They show UndyingLoyalty at all times, even [[BlindObedience when it's a bad idea]]; the healthy ones, to quote the old {{meme|ticMutation}}, "doesn't afraid of anything."

* '''Nines/Peacemakers''' ''(ego)'' just want everyone to get along. Their Basic Fear, of [[PleaseDontLeaveMe having to undergo separation and loss]], causes them to have [[TheEmpath a lot of empathy]] and do whatever they can to promote harmony and well-being. At their worst, this turns them into a passive-aggressive ExtremeDoormat who goes into denial if anything goes wrong. However, they can also be ThePollyanna, accepting, trusting and refreshingly optimistic. Most AllLovingHero characters will often fall into this category.
* '''Ones/Reformers''' ''(superego)'' are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a BrokenAce or a {{hypocrit|e}}ical KnightTemplar.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; think [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame, or the plight of the SadClown or a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three. Despite their apparently high self-esteem, [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex they actually feel a lot less confident than they let on]].

According to the the dictionary, an "Enneagram" is a nine-pointed star. The ''Enneagram of Personality'' has nine inter-related personality bases.

* '''Eights/Challengers/Leaders''' ''(id)'' have a lot in common with the MamaBear trope, except that the person they are trying to protect is themselves. The Eight's Basic Fear is of being harmed or controlled by others, and that has driven them to be [[HotBlooded brash, bold and confident in themselves]]. Of course, they can also get confrontational and domineering; they may have trouble controlling their tempers, and with being vulnerable to others. They make the best leaders, but also the best bullies, and are by far the most likely to employ the "TakingYouWithMe" trope.

Obviously, every Type is numerically adjacent to two other types, and the more dominant of the adjacent type becomes a "Wing." Simply put, that wing is your secondary personality: an Eight with a Nine wing (8w9) tends to be more reserved and let anger build up in themselves, whereas an Eight with a Seven wing (8w7) is more gregarious and impulsive.

A hallmark of the Enneagram is that it does not try to insist that only one enneatype can achieve a certain type of interaction. In fact, every person has ''all'' nine enneatypes in play in varying degrees, with different facets coming out at different times, which may make it hard to figure out what type your base is besides taking a measuring test. Even worse, no one type has a monopoly on any given trait or facet. If you like to lead, for instance, the obvious answer is Eight (from their urge to show their strength), but Sixes and Ones can have their moments as well - Sixes out of their loyalty and confronting fear, and Ones for getting things done right. Fours are wildly creative, drawing from their introspection and self-awareness, but Fives have it too, from their perceptions of the world, and Nines from their idle, daydreaming imaginations.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame was a major Three trait, as is the surface shine of a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three. Despite their apparently high self-esteem, [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex they actually feel a lot less confident than they let on]].

* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' ''(id)'' are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl. They love new experiences, as borne out of their Basic Fear of being deprived or in pain, and cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, they can get [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]], and sometimes even withdraw from life entirely, burying fear in an avalanche of experience in which they are (in fact) too scared to actually partake. (Also, despite the trope attributions, Sevens can be males; in fact, one of the common names for this type is The PeterPan.)

These different types often are referred to with their own labels, but we have chosen not to include them here because names rarely mean the same thing to different people.

The underlying theory of the Enneagram is that each of the nine "Enneatypes" has a core "Vice," a single root insecurity that serves as the FreudianExcuse which the entire personality type is thereafter built on. This Vice must be let go for self-actualisation. This is also why the system doesn't try to pigeonhole you: as you read through the nine types and their vices, you'll note that you have all those fears. But one of them's probably strongest, and Enneagram theorists would assign you to that type. The types are:

* '''Twos/Helpers''' ''(superego)'' are kind, generous and often selfless, which is their backwards way of hoping that somebody will be nice to them and get ''their'' needs met. "LoveHungry", or perhaps "DesperatelyCravesAffection," is their Basic Fear. They like feeling needed and can get [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive of the people they care about]], and sometimes forget how to please themselves (LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces is a major theme of the Enneagram). On the other hand, a healthy Two is a model of [[LoveYouAndEverybody altruism and unconditional love]].

The Enneagram is a personality model, derived from [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Sufi]] teachings and elaborated upon by George Gurdjieff, Oscar Ichazo, and Claudio Naranjo. It is unique amongst personality tests in that it doesn't try to pigeonhole you based on who you happen to be at this very second; it accounts for personal evolution, both in the past and in the future, and gives suggestions for how to improve. People could use this to identify from where their own subconscious impulses stem from, and unlock their true self.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' ''(id)'' can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame was a major Three trait, as is the surface shine of a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist by Your Own Petard]] is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[AddedAlliterativeAppeal A trio of trios of types.]] Which one are you? (And no, this is not a [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist transmutation circle]].)]]

* '''Twos/Helpers''' (''super-ego'') are kind, generous and often selfless, which is their backwards way of hoping that somebody will be nice to them and get ''their'' needs met. "LoveHungry", or perhaps "DesperatelyCravesAffection," is their Basic Fear. They like feeling needed and can get [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive of the people they care about]], and sometimes forget how to please themselves (LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces is a major theme of the Enneagram). On the other hand, a healthy Two is a model of [[LoveYouAndEverybody altruism and unconditional love]].
* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' (''id'') can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame was a major Three trait, as is the surface shine of a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Shooting oneself in the foot is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three.
* '''Fours/Individualists/Romantics''' (''ego'') are the reason TrueArtIsAngsty. Their Basic Fear is that they have no identity or personal significance, that [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair the world will forget them when they're gone]]. They are sensitive and self-aware, looking inwards for meaning, and express themselves with their prolific creative output... Or they may become the stereotypical MadArtist who thinks no one understands them and may be DrivenToSuicide. When they aren't cutting off their own ears, they are luminary and visionary creators, helping make sense of the senseless world around them.
!! Thinking Triad ([[UsefulNotes/IdSuperegoAndEgo super-ego]])
* '''Fives/Investigators/Thinkers''' (''ego'') are the silent observer types. Their Basic Fear is to be helpless or unable to defend themselves, and as such they develop keen insight and an incredible awareness of how the world works; Fives are the type who can stop wars with a single well-placed remark. (Or [[{{Troll}} start them]].) Unhealthy Fives can become [[LonersAreFreaks Freaky Loners]] or {{Cloud Cuckoo Lander}}s; the healthy ones revolutionize the way we see the world.
* '''Sixes/Loyalists/Skeptics''' (''super-ego'') are one of the more confusing types, being an uneasy compromise between a creature-comforts person and a devil's advocate with an overactive SpiderSense. Both behaviors stem from their Basic Fear of lacking security; they constantly anticipate attacks which will deprive them of the things and/or people they love. They show UndyingLoyalty at all times, even [[BlindObedience when it's a bad idea]]; the healthy ones, to quote the old meme, "doesn't afraid of anything."
* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' (''id'') are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl. They love new experiences, as borne out of their Basic Fear of being deprived or in pain, and cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, they can get [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]], and sometimes even withdraw from life entirely, burying fear in an avalanche of experience in which they are (in fact) too scared to actually partake. (Also, despite the trope attributions, Sevens can be males; in fact, one of the common names for this type is The PeterPan.)

* '''Eights/Challengers/Leaders''' (''id'') have a lot in common with the MamaBear trope, except that the person they are trying to protect is themselves. The Eight's Basic Fear is of being harmed or controlled by others, and that has driven them to be [[HotBlooded brash, bold and confident in themselves]]. Of course, they can also get confrontational and domineering; they may have trouble controlling their tempers, and with being vulnerable to others. They make the best leaders, but also the best bullies, and are by far the most likely to employ the "TakingYouWithMe" trope.
* '''Nines/Peacemakers''' (''ego'') just want everyone to get along. Their Basic Fear, of [[PleaseDontLeaveMe having to undergo separation and loss]], causes them to have [[TheEmpath a lot of empathy]] and do whatever they can to promote harmony and well-being. At their worst, this turns them into a passive-aggressive ExtremeDoormat who goes into denial if anything goes wrong. However, they can also be ThePollyanna, accepting, trusting and refreshingly optimistic. Most AllLovingHero characters will often fall into this category.
* '''Ones/Reformers''' (''super-ego'') are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a BrokenAce or [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]] KnightTemplar.

Along with the whole "FreudianExcuse" thing, another major theme of the Enneagram is of [[HoistByHisOwnPetard shooting oneself in the foot: the defensive mechanisms that each type uses to keep themselves safe are also the ones most likely to alienate them from people, happiness and healthiness]]. An unhealthy person may realise their defense mechanism has taken them too far down to self-destruction: i.e. Fours, as one of the more self-aware of the types, tend to be extremely self-conscious, and at unhealthy levels their introspection results in self-hatred and depression rather than creative transformation.

The ''real'' complexity comes from the "Direction of Integration" and "Direction of Disintegration." This theory states that, when a person is under stress, they start displaying the ''negative'' traits of the type they "disintegrate" to. For instance, Ones fall to Four, meaning that a One who is having a bad day will start to brood, wallow in self-pity, and question their identity the way a Four does. Conversely, the Direction of Integration describes which type a happy person starts [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin integrating the ''positive'' traits of]]. Ones rise to Seven; a One who has managed to make peace with his/her own flaws will not only feel joyful and optimistic, but give themselves permission to enjoy life more. The Direction of Disintegration is simply the Direction of Integration backwards. Thus the lines you see in the Enneagram circle diagram. Integration for each type is as follows (there are two circuits):

* 2 > 4 > 1 > 7 > 5 > 8 > 2 …
* 3 > 6 > 9 > 3 …

A hallmark of the Enneagram is that it does not try to insist only one enneatype can achieve a certain type of interaction. In fact, every person has ''all'' nine enneatypes in play in varying degrees, with different facets coming out at different times, which may make it hard to figure out what type your base is besides taking a measuring test. Even worse, no one type has a monopoly on any given trait or facet. If you like to lead, for instance, the obvious answer is Eight (from their urge to show their strength), but Sixes and Ones can have their moments as well - Sixes out of their loyalty and confronting fear, and Ones for getting things done right. Fours are wildly creative, drawing from their introspection and self-awareness, but Fives have it too, from their perceptions of the world, and Nines from their idle, daydreaming imaginations.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram_of_Personality Enneagram of Personality]] on Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}.

* '''Nines/Peacemakers''' (''ego'') just want everyone to get along. Their Basic Fear, of [[PleaseDontLeaveMe having to undergo separation and loss]], causes them to have [[TheEmpath a lot of empathy]] and do whatever they can to promote harmony and well-being. At their worst, this turns them into a passive-aggressive ExtremeDoormat who goes into denial if anything goes wrong. However, they can also be ThePollyanna, accepting, trusting and refreshingly optimistic.

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' (''id'') can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; [[ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame was a major Three trait, as is the surface shine of a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are [[SlaveToPR susceptible to public opinion]], and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Shooting oneself in the foot is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[AddedAlliterativeAppeal A trio of trios of types.]] Which one are you?]]

* '''Sevens/Enthusiasts''' (''id'') are somewhere between the GenkiGirl and the ManicPixieDreamGirl. They love new experiences, as borne out of their Basic Fear of being deprived or in pain, and cannot be beat at living in the moment and being joyful. Having said that, they can get [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny scatterbrained or impulsive]], and sometimes even withdraw from life entirely, burying fear in an avalanche of experience which they are (in fact) too scared to actually partake in. (Also, despite the trope attributions, Sevens can be males; in fact, one of the common names for this type is The PeterPan.)

* '''Threes/Achievers/Motivators''' (''id'') can be chameleonic in their pursuit of acceptance and status, becoming whatever they think will make them popular; [[ILoveLucy Lucy Ricardo]]'s willingness to do anything for fame was a major Three trait, as is the surface shine of a StepfordSmiler. Their Basic Fear is of being worthless. They are susceptible to public opinion, and can become so obsessed with pleasing everyone that they kind of forget what their ''actual'' personality is like. (Shooting oneself in the foot is another major theme of the Enneagram.) Paradoxically, a healthy Three is the most authentic and genuine person you will ever meet. Creator/DavidFosterWallace's "Good Old Neon" is a pretty good example of what it's like to ride in the head of a Three.

* '''Nines/Peacemakers''' (''ego'') just want everyone to get along. Their Basic Fear, of [[PleaseDontLeaveMe having to undergo separation and loss]], causes them to have [[TheEmpath a lot of empathy]] and do whatever they can to promote harmony and well-being. At their worst, this turns them into a passive-aggressive ExtremeDoormat who go into denial if anything goes wrong. However, they can also be ThePollyanna, accepting, trusting and refreshingly optimistic.
* '''Ones/Reformers''' (''super-ego'') are ThePerfectionist, plain and simple. Their Basic Fear is to be corrupt. They have a little voice in the back of their heads which is constantly criticizing their behavior; they use this to try and stay moral and ascend beyond the criticism of others. They tend to shove under the bed anything they feel ashamed about, which can create all sorts of horrific repression problems. A healthy One leads by example and shows IncorruptiblePurePureness; an unhealthy One can be a BrokenAce or hypocritical KnightTemplar.