Short Enneagram Type Descriptions:

Type One: The Reformer

Principled, purposeful, self controlled and perfectionistic: Ones are the principled, idealistic type. They are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. They can be morally heroic.

Type Two: The Helper

Generous, demonstrative, people pleasing and possessive: Twos are the caring interpersonal type. Twos are empathic, sincere and warm hearted. They are friendly, generous and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering and people-pleasing.; They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.

Type Three: The Achiever

Adaptable, excelling, driven and image conscious: The adaptable, success oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their best: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be-role models who inspire others.

Type Four: The Individualist

Expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed and temperamental The introspective, romantic type. Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self conscious. Withholding themselves form others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self pity. At their best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

Type Five: The Investigator

Perceptive, innovative, secretive and isolated
The perceptive, cerebral type. Fives are alert, insightful, and curious. They are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills. Independent, innovative, and inventive, they can also become preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs. They become detached, yet high-strung and intense. They typically have problems with eccentricity, nihilism, and isolation.; At their best: visionary pioneers, often ahead of their time, and able to see the world in an entirely new way.

Type Six: The Loyalist

Engaging, anxious, responsible and suspicious
The committed, security oriented type. Sixes are reliable, hardworking, responsible, and trustworthy. Excellent “troubleshooters”, they foresee problems and foster cooperation, but can also become defensive, evasive, and anxious-running on stress while complaining about it. They can be cautious and indecisive, but also reactive, defiant and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion. At their best: Internally stable and self reliant, courageously championing themselves and others.

Type Seven: The Enthusiast

Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive and scattered
The busy, productive type. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.

Type Eight: The Challenger

Self-confident, decisive, willful and confrontational
The powerful, aggressive type. Eights are self-confident, strong, and assertive. Protective, resourceful, straight talking, and decisive, but can also be ego-centric and domineering. Eights feel they must control their environment, especially people, sometimes becoming confrontational and intimidating. Eights typically have problems with their tempers and with allowing themselves to be vulnerable. At their best: self-mastering, they use their strength to improve the others’ lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and inspiring.

Type Nine: The Peacemaker

Receptive, reassuring, agreeable and complacent
The easy going, self effacing type. Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness. At their best: indomitable and all-embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.

What type are you? Click Here to get more information with the RHETI Sampler.