Explanation of the types

[GOD]

Heres the test to see what Enneagram type you are

http://www.psychologytribe.com/forums/online-tests/2-enneagram-test-free.html

However, the following is a brief description of each of the 9 types.

Ones: Reformers, Critics, Perfectionists
People of this personality type are focused on personal integrity. Ones can be wise, discerning and inspiring in their quest for the truth. They also tend to dissociate themselves from their flaws or what they believe are flaws (such as negative emotions) and can become hypocritical and hyper-critical of others, seeking the illusion of virtue to hide their own vices. The greatest fear of Ones is to be flawed and their ultimate goal is perfection.

Twos: Helpers, Givers, Caretakers
Twos, at their best, are compassionate, thoughtful and astonishingly generous but they can also be particularly prone to clinginess and manipulation. Twos want, above all, to be loved and needed and fear being unworthy of love.

Threes: Achievers, Performers, Succeeders
Highly adaptable and changeable. Some Threes walk the world with confidence and unstinting authenticity; others wear a series of public masks, acting the way they think will bring them approval and losing track of their true self. Threes are motivated by the need to succeed and to be seen as successful.

Fours: Romantics, Individualists, Artists
Fours are driven by the desire to understand themselves and find a place in the world. They often fear that they have no identity or personal significance. Fours embrace individualism and are often profoundly creative and intuitive. However, they have a habit of withdrawing to internalize, searching desperately inside themselves for something they never find and creating a spiral of depression.

Fives: Observers, Thinkers, Investigators
Fives are motivated by the desire to understand the world around them, specifically in terms of facts. Believing they are only worth what they contribute, Fives have learned to withdraw, to watch with keen eyes and speak only when they can shake the world with their observations. Sometimes they do just that. However, some Fives are known to withdraw from the world, becoming reclusive hermits and fending off social contact with abrasive cynicism. Fives fear incompetency or uselessness and want to be capable and knowledgeable above all else.

Sixes: Loyalists, Devil's Advocates, Defenders
Sixes long for stability above all else. They exhibit unwavering loyalty and responsibility, but once betrayed, they are slow to trust again. They are particularly prone to fearful thinking and emotional anxiety as well as reactionary and paranoid behavior. Sixes tend to react to their fears either in a phobic manner by avoiding fearful situations or by confronting them in a counterphobic manner.

Sevens: Enthusiasts, Adventurers, Sensationalists
Sevens are adventurous and busy with many activities with energy and enthusiasm. At their best they embrace life for its varied joys and wonders and truly live in the moment but, at their worst, they dash frantically from one new experience to another, too scared of disappointment to actually enjoy themselves. Sevens fear being unable to provide for themselves or to experience life in all of its richness.

Eights: Leaders, Protectors, Challengers
Eights value their own strength and desire to be powerful and in control. They concern themselves with self-preservation. They are natural leaders, who can be either friendly and charitable or dictatorially manipulative, ruthless and willing to destroy anything in their way. Eights seek control over their own lives and destinies and fear being harmed or controlled by others.

Nines: Mediators, Peacemakers, Preservationists
Nines are ruled by their empathy. At their best they are perceptive, receptive, gentle, calming and at peace with the world. They also, however, tend to dissociate from conflicts and to indifferently go along with others people's wishes. They may also simply withdraw and act via inaction. They fear the conflict caused by their ability to simultaneously understand opposing points of view and seek peace of mind above all else. Nines are especially prone to dissociation and passive-aggressive behaviour.

Further information on this topic at Enneagram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Louie]

Funny thing, I have never been able to nail my enneagram type, MB type has remained consistent over years (not just internet, but from a couple of Psychologist's testing, as a part of some Uni courses), but the E is all over the place..

[GOD]

My MB type has consistently come in as INTJ.

However, with the ennegram I'm a mix of 8, 7 & 3. If I was to self select I'd say 8w3, although I seem to come out 8w7 (but its a close call with 8w3).

In theory my INTJ = Ni-Te-Fi-Se

Whereas the 8w7 comes out closer to the ENTP which is Ne-Ti-Fe-Si
(around 50% of my type are 5w).

Which is interesting, as basically its completely opposite trait usage! With MB supposedly how you are internally and Ennegram how you are to the outside world it shows how I've managed to really get flexibility in my traits.

I to think, E to engage, J to decide and P to innovate. Also, over time you can become more P as these are the skills that are required for advancement, J will make sure you're a good robot.

Introverted iNtuiting (Ni) - Envisaging

Envisaging likely outcomes without specific recall to underlying information. Interconnection of symbols (analogies) giving unique perspectives and observations. Visualising outcomes, permutations and implications.

Extraverted iNtuiting (Ne) - Interpreting
Making inferences and generating logical constructs. Seeing interconnections and linkages.

(I think Ni is more a subconscious use of intuition whereas Ne references at a more conscious level).

Extraverted Thinking (Te) - Organising
Organising for efficient action. Application of logic, setting of parameters/guidelines, application of corrective action.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) - Analysis
Detailed analysis, understanding principles, looking for inconsistencies and generating options.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) - Tradeoffs
Emotional detachment allowing relative options, cost/risk v benefit tradeoffs, directional focus of feelings in line with more dominant traits (where they exist).

Extraverted Feeling (Fe) - Cohesion
Identifying with the group values. Conforming and maintaining feelings in line with group expectations/requirements.

Extraverted Sensing (Se) - Experiencing
Assessing information and feedback from the physical world. Detecting reactions and accumulating experiences.

Introverted Sensing (Si) - Reviewing
Reviewing past information and feedback, recalling past reactions and experiences.