Nine types

The table below gives the principal characteristics of the nine types along with their basic relationships. This table is based on Understanding the Enneagram: The Practical Guide to Personality Types (revised edition) by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.[10] Other theorists may disagree on some aspects. The types are normally referred to by their numbers but sometimes their "characteristic roles" (which refers to distinctive archetypal characteristics[11]) are used instead. The "stress" and "security" points (sometimes referred to as the "disintegration" and "integration" points) are the types, connected by the lines of the enneagram figure, that it is believed a person may be particularly influenced by in more adverse or relaxed circumstances. According to theory, someone classed as a One type, for example, may begin to think, feel and act more like a Four type when stressed, or more like a Seven type when relaxed.

Type
Characteristic role
Ego fixation
Holy idea
Basic fear
Basic desire
Temptation
Vice/Passion
Virtue
Stress
Security


1 Reformer Judging Perfection Corruptness, imbalance, being bad Goodness, integrity, balance Hypocrisy, hypercriticism Anger (Resentment) Serenity 4 7

2 Helper Flattery (Ingratiation) Freedom, Will Being unloved To feel love Deny own needs, manipulation Pride Humility 8 4

3 Achiever Vanity Hope, Harmony, Law Worthlessness To feel valuable Pushing self to always be "the best" Deceit Truthfulness, Authenticity 9 6

4 Individualist Melancholy (Fantasizing) Origin Having no identity or significance To be uniquely themselves To overuse imagination in search of self Envy Equanimity (Emotional Balance) 2 1

5 Investigator Stinginess (Retention) Omniscience, Transparency Helplessness, Incapable, Incompetent Mastery Replacing direct experience with concepts Avarice Non-Attachment 7 8

6 Loyalist Cowardice (Worrying) Faith, Strength Being without support or guidance To have support and guidance Indecision, doubt, seeking reassurance Fear Courage 3 9

7 Enthusiast Planning (Anticipation) Work, Wisdom, Plan Being trapped in pain and deprivation To be satisfied and content Thinking fulfillment is somewhere else Gluttony Sobriety 1 5

8 Challenger Vengeance (Objectification) Truth Being harmed, controlled, violated Self-protection Thinking they are completely self-sufficient Lust (Forcefulness) Innocence 5 2

9 Peacemaker Indolence (Daydreaming) Love Loss, fragmentation, separation Wholeness, peace of mind Avoiding conflicts, avoiding self-assertion Sloth (Disengagement) Action 6 3