Enneagram Glossary

The lines connecting the types on the Enneagram symbol, representing paths of integration (growth) and disintegration (stress).

The core motivating desire of each Enneagram type, often formed as a response to their basic fear.

The core fear that motivates each Enneagram type's behavior. This fear usually develops in childhood and shapes much of the personality.

The three main ways of processing information and responding to the world: the Head/Thinking Center (mental), the Heart/Feeling Center (emotional), and the Body/Instinctive Center (instinctive/gut).

The movement toward psychological stress or unhealthy behaviors. Each type has a specific direction of disintegration, where they adopt negative traits of another type when under stress.

A system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram describes nine personality types and maps each type on a nine-pointed geometric figure.

The journey toward greater awareness, integration, and health for each Enneagram type. Involves recognizing and transcending limiting patterns.

Three fundamental drives that further modify each Enneagram type: Self-Preservation (focus on personal security), Social (focus on group connection), and Sexual/One-to-One (focus on intense relationships).

The movement toward personal growth and health. Each Enneagram type has a specific direction of integration, represented by a connection to another type, where they adopt positive traits of that type when growing.

Nine distinct stages of psychological health within each type, ranging from highly functional and integrated to deeply unhealthy and disintegrated.

The Enneagram type toward which a person moves in growth or in more healthy states, adopting positive characteristics of that type.

The Enneagram type toward which a person moves under stress or in less healthy states, adopting negative characteristics of that type.

The 27 variations of the Enneagram types (9 types × 3 instinctual variants), each with distinctive characteristics based on which instinctual drive is dominant.

The three groupings of Enneagram types based on the dominant center of intelligence: Thinking (Types 5, 6, 7), Feeling (Types 2, 3, 4), and Instinctive (Types 8, 9, 1).

Principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic. Driven by a need to be good, correct, and have integrity.

Generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive. Motivated by a need to be loved and appreciated.

Adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious. Motivated by a need to be successful and admired.

Self-aware, sensitive, reserved, and expressive. Driven by a need to be unique and find personal significance.

Perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated. Motivated by a need to gain knowledge and conserve energy.

Committed, responsible, anxious, and suspicious. Driven by a need for security and guidance.

Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, and scattered. Motivated by a need to avoid pain and experience life fully.

Self-confident, decisive, confrontational, and domineering. Driven by a need to be strong and avoid vulnerability.

Receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent. Motivated by a need to maintain peace and avoid conflict.

The process of incorporating positive aspects of one's wing types to achieve greater balance and wholeness.

The personality types on either side of your primary type. For example, a Type 1 has Type 9 and Type 2 wings, written as 1w9 and 1w2. Wings influence how your primary type is expressed.