Enneagram Info

Introducing the nine Enneagram types
Welcome to our online tour of the nine Enneagram types. This is a great
place to start if you are new to the Enneagram or want an overview of each
Enneagram type. Our teachings in the Narrative Tradition show
representatives of the types speaking for themselves. The speakers
poignant statements and levels of disclosure reflect their self-awareness and
ability to reveal important aspects of themselves.
The Enneagram is a system of personality development based on how we
think, feel and act. It allows us to gain greater knowledge of our inner world,
to build our capabilities for self-observation, and to understand whats going
on inside us so that we can transform our behavior in the outer world.
Although you might think that you continually observe yourself, the
Enneagram requires a particular understanding of self-awareness. Working
with the Enneagram involves a more careful, conscious, deliberate and
ongoing effort at observing ones thoughts, feelings and actions, in much the
same way that mindfulness practices aim to increase ones conscious
awareness of the present moment. By learning how the Enneagram
describes your personality type and consciously observing where you put
your attention and energy, you can gain deeper insight into your automatic,
habitual modes of thinking, feeling and behaving.
The video clips of the types speaking for themselves are brief excerpts from
outstanding DVD and video collections by Dr. David Daniels and Helen
Palmer.
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Enneagram Type 1: The Perfectionist

Enneagram Type 2: The Giver
Enneagram Type 3: The Performer
Enneagram Type 4: The Romantic
Enneagram Type 5: The Observer
Enneagram Type 6: The Loyal Skeptic
Enneagram Type 7: The Epicure
Enneagram Type 8: The Protector
Enneagram Type 9: The Mediator
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Definitions used in describing each type
The lost essential quality is the original quality or fundamental principle of

essential or divine being that went into the background during early childhood
and profoundly influenced our development.
The compensating belief is the thought pattern that we substituted for the lost
essential quality.
The attention/coping strategy is what we used to survive in an environment
that did not or could not meet our need for the experience of the essential quality.
The trap is what we mistakenly believe will bring security and satisfaction.
The driving energy is the force that fuels our type-based world-view.
The avoidance is the ultimate state that each of us dreads.
The strengths are the benefits or positive attributes resulting from our
attention/coping strategy.
The paradox is when our strategy produces the opposite result of what we really
want.
The path of development is what each of us must do to overcome the pitfalls and
maximize the gifts of our particular personality type.
The ultimate task is reclaiming the original, essential quality of divine being that
went into the background during early childhood development.
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Notations for dynamics diagrams

The dynamics diagrams are drawn in the style of the System Dynamics
causal loops diagram. Causal loops diagrams emphasize the causal
relationships among things. By better understanding these relationships, we
can gain insights to the dynamics involved. It also allow us to develop
possible policy or remedies.
The sample diagram below illustrates the notations of causal loops diagrams:
1. Words denote variables, values that can go up or down.

o
For example "seek truth" is a variable.
2. Arrows denote causal relationships between variables.

o
I.e. change in one variable causes change in another variable.

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3. Arrows with "+" sign indicate positive correlation.

o
For example, "seek truth" drives "do the right thing". This
means that the more one seeks truth, the more one will do the
right thing. Similarly, the less one seeks truth, the less one will
do the right thing.
4. Arrows with "-" sign indicate negative correlation.

o
For example, "do the right thing" controls "need to be right".

This means means that doing the right thing decreases the
needs to be right. Similarly, not doing the right thing increases
the need to be right.
5. A closed loop of arrows form one causal loop.

o
A causal loop is thus a feedback loop of variables. The sign for

the loop is the product of all the signs of the arrows.
6. A loop with "-" sign indicates a balancing loop which stabilizes.

o
For example, the green loop consisting of "need to be right",

"seek truth", and "do the right thing" form a balancing loop. So
the more one needs to be right, the more one seek truth, which
drives one to do the right thing, which decreases the need to
be right. So the values stabilizes.
7. A loop with "+" sign indicates a reinforcing loop which magnifies the
values.
o
For example, the purple loop consisting of "do the right thing",
"fear of being condemned", and "correct others" form a
reinforcing loop. So the less one does the right thing, the more
one fear being condemned, the more one starts to condemn
and correct others, which further causes one to not do the right
thing. A snow-balling effect occurs.
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How to use these diagrams?

Studying the diagrams will help us understand the dynamics involved. For
example, the purple loop above clearly illustrates a malicious cycle that can
occur in an unhealthy state, when one's not doing the right thing. But when
one's in a healthy state and doing the right thing, the purple loop can also
explain why one's basic fear can be conquered.
Once we've gained the insight into the problem, we can begin to solve it by
strengthening and weakening the effect of certain links. This can help us
break through the unhealthy cycles and strengthen the healthy ones.
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Introducing the nine Enneagram types

Enneagram Type 1: The Perfectionist

Definitions used in describing each type

The lost essential quality is the original quality or fundamental principle of

Notations for dynamics diagrams

1. Words denote variables, values that can go up or down.

For example "seek truth" is a variable.

2. Arrows denote causal relationships between variables.

I.e. change in one variable causes change in another variable.

3. Arrows with "+" sign indicate positive correlation.

4. Arrows with "-" sign indicate negative correlation.

For example, "do the right thing" controls "need to be right".

5. A closed loop of arrows form one causal loop.

A causal loop is thus a feedback loop of variables. The sign for

6. A loop with "-" sign indicates a balancing loop which stabilizes.

For example, the green loop consisting of "need to be right",

How to use these diagrams?

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