Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Personality Explained
By Jean Adeler
The Structural Enneagram is a fundamental Even at the surface level of delineation and
rethinking of the Enneagram model of personality. The description of types, the Structural Enneagram's
conventional Enneagram is a system of nine personality innovations are quite extensive. For example, while the
types organized on a graph called an enneagram, or conventional Enneagram describes nine personality
nine-part figure. types with the option of assigning a wingthe type on
As an adaptation of that well-known personality- either side of the dominant typethe Structural
typing system, the Structural Enneagram introduces Enneagram makes wings an essential factor in
several new features, among them: personality typing.
Specification of the underlying structures of The principal new elements of the Structural
personality. Enneagram are as follows:
More-accurate, two-number structures as opposed 6 Perspectives that form the building blocks of
to the old single-number types. personality
These and other modifications of the Enneagram model 9 personality structures corresponding to pairs of
add exponentially to its explanatory value and useful- adjacent numbered points
ness. 18 type-plus-wing personalities
Moreover, the Structural Enneagram model exposes the
dynamics of personality, consisting of three separate
moments that drive the personality. In short, the
Structural Enneagram understands the Enneagram to be
not merely an organized collection of personality types
but also a dynamic model of the underlying structure of
personality.
Structural Enneagram 3
Personality as Perspective
At the root of personality is Perspective. The word use of each of these Perspectives contributes something
perspective has multiple meanings: it is worldview; to your sense of identity, to your selfhood.
point of view; perceptual position; and mental posture
relative to yourself, others, and the environment. In the
Structural Enneagram, Perspective is contingent upon
many factors, among them, physiological capabilities
and constraints, psychological drives, accidents of
personal history, cultural contributions, and (largely
unconscious) linguistic structures.
Perspective Five
1
Edmund Morris, Colonel Roosevelt (Random House, 2010), psychiatry dissociation has all negative connotations, in
3. order to avoid confusion, I've dropped the term.
2
In previous accounts, I used the NLP term dissociated for
Perspective Five rather than detached. However, since in
Structural Enneagram 5
maybe you're going to serve fruit salad to guestsyou subject and object in grammatical terms borrowed from
might rate its acidity or notice that the juice tasted the parts of the common English sentence structure:
sweeter than usual. Enjoyment of the orange has been subject-verb-object. The subject does something that
subordinated to observation. involves an object. I love youI am the subject. You
When you are detached, your feelings are more love meI am the object.
under your own control and less contingent upon
circumstances. While riding a roller coaster, you may
become curious about the physics of the cars staying on
the pitched track. While giving a speech, you may
evaluate the audience reaction. On the jury in a murder
trial, you can dispassionately weigh the evidence for and
against the charges.
The developmental aspect of shifting from the
associated to the detached perspective is well illustrated
in an account written by psychoanalyst Jeanne Lafont.3
A four-year-old girl is being treated. On a rainy day,
Lafont asks the girl to look out the window and then
draw what she sees. The girl grasps the pencil in her fist
and performs rain by dotting the paper. According to
Lafont, most children at that age take a step back from
the scene of rain and draw vertical lines depicting the
drops falling. While under the influence of Perspective Eight,
In dotting the paper as if the pencil were the rain, people of any age try to earn and maintain the positive
the girl is taking the perspective of the rain itself; this is regard of the other. For those who are Eight-dominant,
Perspective Seven, associated. Drawing rain as vertical a recognition-seeking strategy also plays a pivotal role
lines requires detached Perspective Five. in self-identity and motivation, as will be discussed in
By training her patient on how to enter the detached the descriptions of individual personality structures and
state, Lafont reverses the condition that had brought the types.
girl into therapy. Cognitive therapy does something As with the other five Perspectives, you never
similar, teaching the person stuck in all-good or all-bad outgrow Perspective Eights mode of being, even if you
thinking to step back and observe a more nuanced don't express it as a major life theme. While holding
reality. subject position, you love, lead, follow, assert, motivate,
convince, desire, see. In object position, you are desired,
Perspective Eight punished, rewarded, valued, taught, led, loved, seen.
Whether the other is giving you attention or wanting
The child once having attained some degree of attention from you, Perspective Eight secures a sense of
distance from the maternal environment, with identity via the recognition and desire of the other.
Perspective Five, the pendulum again swings in mom's
direction. With the arrival of Perspective Eight, the child Perspective Two
locks into a mother-child dyad, a bonded state steeped
in the fantasy that identity is a function of holding Perspective Two connects you to other people's
another's attention. If you believe you are necessary to desires. It often involves the use of what NLP calls other
mother, then you can be sure she will not lose you. positiona projecting of consciousness into the space
This is also a time of ego expansion. Children of of the other in order to imagine, from their point of view,
three and four can be at their most aggressive and what they think. I tend to discuss this perspective in
demanding. And, of course, they are becoming ever terms of the others desire because I think the main thing
more self-aware. you want to know about others' thoughts is what they
Under Perspective Eight, self-identity is founded on want, and most particularly what they want from you.
a subject-object relationship. This is a common When straightforwardly expressed, Two-con-
distinction in psychology, but you can also think of sciousness is centered squarely in the other. Some would
3
Jeanne Lafont, ed. by Ellie Ragland, The Inherent Twisting
of the Gaze, (Re)-Turn: A Journal of Lacanian Studies Vol.
4, Spring 2008: 127-134.
Structural Enneagram 6
call it thinking with the heart. It's an empathy that makes Complicating matters, children may feel they have to
you feel connected to and responsible for each other. compensate for a father who is missing or otherwise not
This direct sort of Two-consciousness dominates in the doing his job of keeping the mother off their back. But
altruistic and caring types. whatever the reason behind a stuck Two pattern, it keeps
the mother (and, later, any other) nearby, while at a
reasonably safe distance.
For you, this childhood drama may have been less
intense and is long since forgotten, but it nevertheless
left you with a highly useful ability to project your
consciousness into other position and emerge with
invaluable information. How else could you know how
your audience is responding to you? Or what your
market will buy? Or even how to love?
Perspective Four
4
The associated and detached states are closely related to
extraversion and introversion, respectively.
Structural Enneagram 9
patterns that could not be seen from the inside. You can Personality Structures and the Seven-Five Binary
remove your emotions from the scene and merely Seven Five In Flux
witness. You can evaluate things objectively. Two-Three Five-Six
Obviously, each position, Five and Seven, has its Seven-Eight Eight-Nine One-Two
merits. It has been recommended that we associate to Three-Four Four-Five
positive experiences and detach from negative ones. Six-Seven Nine-One
Common language testifies, for example, that grieving
must be gone through but we are not to wallow in Of the nine structures, four include the relational,
it. So individuated Perspective Five is often considered Seven Perspective, four include the individuated Five
to be the more mature and adaptive of the two Perspective and one has a more complicated relationship
perspectives in painful emotional contexts: we do say to Seven and Five.
we achieve objectivity. Yet it is apparent upon
reflection that both perspectives of this binary are The Two-Four Binary
absolutely necessary in all matters of the heart. You
know that you must be immersed in experience, in the The most telling distinction between the poles of the
moment, to enjoy being with another person, and yet Two-Four binary is the location of desire in either self
you periodically detach in order to view the situation or other. Personalities incorporating Perspective Two
from the outside, if you want to avoid any number of are prone to a bit of mindreading, paying attention to
atrocious outcomes. what they imagine the other person wantsalthough
And it's the same with intellectual pursuits. their reply to the other's desire may amount to either a
Perspective Five probably initiates the process of direct response to it, an interpretation of it, or a defense
reasoning, analyzing and synthesizing patterns. But or rebellion against it. Personalities relying instead on
once you have taken in a certain amount of information Perspective Four pay more attention to their own
on a topic, you can move seamlessly and intuitively desires, through introspection. Even so, they may not go
back and forth from associated to detached states. after what they want due to interference coming from
You just can't do both at the same instant. And the factors related to other perspectives.
state you favor will constitute the foundational factor of
your self-concept and personality.
Perspectives on Experience
Seven Five
Relational Individuated
Associated Detached
Inside Outside
Subjective Objective
Participant Observer
Extraversion Introversion
Fluent Hesitant Most of us never lose the ability to empathize that
Uninhibited Inhibited comes with Perspective Two, and that is obviously a
Enthusiastic Discerning good thing. But, unfortunately for personalities that are
wedded too tightly to Perspective Two, total attention to
The T-chart is suggestive of some of the basic the others desire precludes healthy attention to their
differences between Perspectives Five and Seven. This own. No matter how rewarding or necessary their
chart is neither exhaustive nor exact. Each of the Perspective-Two strategy may be, they eventually or
descriptors refers to how the individual interacts with occasionally crave separation from the other
experiences, including experiencing people and things. separation such as Perspective Four offers.
In coming sections I will introduce and discuss Some Two-types say thats when the fear of
personality structures. All of the personality structures abandonment kicks in. This fear is often attributed to the
are influenced by the Seven-Five binary in some way. fathers literal or emotional abandonment. And the
The following information is provided as a reference problem is exacerbated by a mother who either does not
point. know what she wants or who fails to obtain what she
wants and for whose desires the child feels responsible.
Structural Enneagram 10
Later, this habitual willingness to consider the The Eight-One Binary
others desire is extended beyond the mother. Although
Two-types may not always respond positively, they do Finally, personality hinges on a choice regarding the
tune into the others demands and preferences. Eight-One binary: whether to form an interpersonal
On the other hand, personalities that use identification and motivational strategy or an
individuated Perspective Four are only too happy leave individuated one. The Perspective-Eight self-concept
such responsibility for the other behind in order to and purpose come primarily from relationships and
follow their own desires. They will be far more interactions with other people, while the Perspective-
autonomous, and even self-absorbed compared to One self-concept and purpose emerges from a
someone who favors Perspective Two. relationship to ideas and principles. This distinction is
Of course, it is quite possible to be balanced important in that these two Perspectives control not only
between Perspectives Two and Four, to switch how people conceptualize themselves but also how they
seamlessly back and forth between them. Only you cant express themselves.
do both at the same time. Most people lean noticeably
toward one or the other.
The following T-chart is suggestive of some of the
basic differences between perspectives Two and Four. It
is neither exhaustive nor exact. Each of the descriptors
refers to how the personality is oriented to other people,
especially as concerns the location of desire.
Structural Enneagram 11
In coming sections I will introduce and discuss The triangle points, Nine, Three, and Six, are
personality structures. All of the personality structures derived from the hexad in the following way:
are influenced by the Eight-One binary in some way.
The following information is provided as a reference Six Single and Three Combination Perspectives
point. Single Combination
Perspectives Perspectives
Personality Structures and the Eight-One Binary One and Two combine at point Six.
Eight One In Flux Seven and Eight combine at point Three.
Seven-Eight One-Two Four and Five combine at point Nine.
Eight-Nine Nine-One Four-Five
Two-Three Five-Six The depiction of the combination perspectives through
Three-Four Six-Seven the triangle is what makes it possible for the Structural
Enneagram to depict nine personality types out of six
All of the personality structures are influenced by Perspectives.
the Eight-One binary in some way. Of the nine
structures, four include the relational, Eight Perspective,
four include the individuated, One Perspective, and one Recap
has a more complicated relationship to the two.
The Structural Enneagram dictates that each of its
nine personality structures be assembled out of two or
Combination Perspectives three of its six Perspectives. It is axiomatic that a given
on the Triangle personality will not include both Perspectives in the
same binary since both cannot be expressed
A crucial difference between Structural Enneagram simultaneously. We have seen the logic in this: you cant
and the conventional Enneagram of personality is be both associated (Seven) and detached (Five) in the
Structural Enneagram's redefinition of the points on the same instant; similarly, you cant be impelled by the
triangle as combinations of the six points on the hexad. others desire (Two) and at the same time divorced from
it (Four); nor can you be guided simultaneously by
considerations of power relationships (Eight) and an
ideal principle (One).
The very existence of personality is being redefined
here as the reality that, within each binary, you are
bound to favor one side over the other. Although an
evolved person might be flexible enough to switch
easily back and forth between both poles of all three
binaries, most people will have home positions that they
operate out of most of the time, and by definition
personality stems from the relative balance of
Perspectives in habitual use.
Structural Enneagram 12
Personality as Structure
Each of the Structural Enneagrams nine personality Perspective Three, are not captured by the Three-Four
structures is a combination of two or three of the six arc.
Perspectives. The following table lists these com-
binations:
Structural Enneagram 14
The Three-Four Structure cool Perspective may also make it difficult to fully
engage with people and experience. Having Perspective
The Three-Four structure combines individuated Four in the personality makes Four-Fives artistic, anti-
Perspective Four with relational Perspectives Seven and conventional, and original. Too much Four and they
Eight to make a highly achieving, adaptable, creative, become merely eccentric.
and individualistic person. (As explained in the previous
section, point Three unites Perspectives Seven and
Eight.)
5
Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, Personality Types:
Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery, Rev. ed.
(Houghton Mifflin, Boston), 1996, p. 295.
Structural Enneagram 17
Added to the other two individuated Perspectives,
Perspective One increases Nine-Ones' air of inde-
The dynamics of the Eight-Nine structure are as pendence and intellectual self-reliance. They consult
follows. Starting from a detached position (Five), they their own principles and goals rather than relying on
turn inward for a plan (Four), then get others to follow external demands to direct their actions. Nor are they
them in carrying it out (Eight). particularly motivated by the prospect of recognition
Because they do enjoy being the linchpin between from others. Rather, they take it as an obligation to
the little guy and the higher authority, Eight-wing-Nines respond to the call to bring their ideals into
become good at managing, and particularly good at manifestation.
delegating. Ronald Reagan, a Nine-wing-Eight, had a From being so individuated, Nine-Ones develop a
reputation for appointing capable people who agreed talent for looking beyond individual interest to the larger
with him in principle and leaving them alone to do their picture. From this comes a unifying point of view that
jobs. The movie director Robert Altman, probably an makes them think more sociologically than other types.
Eight-wing-Nine, prided himself on casting good actors
and trusting them to interpret their roles without his
interference.
Structural Enneagram 18
Personality Types with Wings
The conventional Enneagram assigns one personality type to each numbered point around the circle and allows
for an optional adjacent wing, with the wing referring to collateral parts of the personality. Although the Structural
Enneagram adopts the conventional Enneagram practice of calling the secondary number a wing, this model does not
actually recognize a single-number type. Wings are considered to be integral to the personality type. Consequently,
personality types are always identified by two numbers rather than one.
The 18 Structural Enneagram personalities are listed nobility, a sense of mission, impassioned striving,
in this section, in the order that they appear around the orderliness, and intelligence.
enneagram circle, starting with One-wing-Two and Perspective Two, the heart position, is the secondary
ending with Nine-wing-One. posture for One-wing-Twos. Because of their reliance
on Perspective Two, even though they typically
gravitate toward a leadership role, they will lead with
One-wing-Two caring and generosity.
The Servant-Leader
Structural Enneagram 19
Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jerry Brown, They enjoy giving smiles, hugs, compliments, and
Mario Cuomo, Emma Thompson, and Martha Stewart gratitude.
probably have personality type One-wing-Two. Probable examples of personality type Two-wing-
Where the others desire meets the judgment of the One are Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa, and
ideal self, One-wing-Twos purpose appears. As Bill Desmond Tutu. Tutu's Made for Goodness: And Why
Clinton said of his One-wing-Two wife, Shes got the This Makes All the Difference (co-written with his
best combination of mind and heart Ive ever seen. daughter Mpho Tutu) reads like a manifesto for the Two-
Yet heart does not always figure prominently in this wing-One way of being.
type's public image. Obviously, the heavier influence of Other reported examples are John Bradshaw and
mind (One) has something to do with this. Danny Glover.
As suggested above, when advocating or working
on behalf of reforms, it is sometimes preferable to avoid
getting too emotionally invested in the process. One-
wing-Twos probably do better when practicing
detachment (perspective Five), and they may sabotage
their causes by becoming overly attached to specific
outcomes or taking things too personally.
Moreover, when One-wing-Twos lose their normal
reserve, they seem unnatural and incongruent to
onlookers. On occasion, Hillary Clinton has been
accused of having a meltdown. She may tear up or get
melodramatic. She can become overly controlling and Two-wing-Ones' commitment to service springs
what anti-feminists delight in calling shrill. These are from both the heart and the head. Since Perspective Two
clearly moments of reverting to associated Perspective is the main influence, they have a real talent for helping
Seven when she should have stayed in Five, the observer others. Although they may act in a quiet, personal way,
state. their secondary Perspective, which is One, gives them a
I have a hypothesis that because One-wing-Twos sense of duty and purpose that may nudge them toward
want to help people they may attach themselves to business or community work rather than strictly family
spouses and employers who actively solicit their service.
assistance. This dynamic would make both parties feel The childhood need to attend to the mothers desires
loved and appreciated. Potential partners would tend to (Perspective Two) carries over into adulthood, with the
be people with an Eight component since they like mother's role being displaced onto others. Two-wing-
making demands on others. Bill and Hillary Clinton fit Ones look after friendships and relationships of all
this picture since he is a Three-wing-Two (Seven plus kinds. Furthermore, like the other type in this pair, they
Eight plus Two). may attach themselves to Eight-types simply because
Among the liabilities for One-wing-Twos is that Eight-types are more than willing to play this game. But
they can be perfectionistic, impatient, emotionally habitual overuse of Perspective Two can cause Two-
constricted, judgmental, inflexible, and intolerant. wing-Ones to lose themselves in the fantasy of being
Furthermore, they can fail to match up to their own high able to satisfy others unrelenting requirements and
standards in any number of ways. But the loss of demands.
Perspective Five under stress and the simultaneous slide Giving too much of themselves is always a risk with
into negative-Seven is the biggest risk for this type. this type. As illustrated in the biography of famous Two-
wing-One, Florence Nightingale, somatizing is a
common defense against not being able to say no.
Two-wing-One Nightingale believed that God had called her to be a
The Altruist nurse. In the nineteenth century, that vocation was not
acceptable in a young woman of her social class, yet she
Through helping others, Altruists combine persisted in spite of disapproval. Convinced that
Perspective Two's generosity with One's principles to marriage would interfere with her ambitions, she
demonstrate unconditional love. Unfortunately, they can rejected at least one seemingly advantageous offer.
be other-oriented to self-destructive extremes. Through of her experience of nursing soldiers in the
You can recognize people of this type by their Crimean War, Nightingale revolutionized nursing care
warmth, encouragement, and overall air of acceptance. in both military and civilian hospitals of Victorian
Structural Enneagram 20
England, and her influence spread around the world. But Two-wing-Three
she eventually fell ill and became an invalid. Some The Giver
observers have thought there was an element of hysteria
to her illness, which did, in fact, have the effect of Givers are friendly, charming, and adaptable. While
getting her out of a lot of things she didnt want to do, they give all sorts of gifts, perhaps the common thread
while still allowing her to dictate social and healthcare is that Two-wing-Threes give the gift of making people
reforms from her bed. feel better. They have the warmth and social graces to
When Two-wing-Ones allow the hopelessness of make people comfortable. This makes them welcoming
others eternal, unremitting need to get under their skin hosts and effective motivators. Many entertainers are of
they may spiral downward into illness, depression, or this type, but many more are the pillars holding up
escapism. Even as these strategies help them disengage families and organizations.
from the others lack, they can prevent them from Possible examples of personality type Two-wing-
fulfilling their own larger missions. Three are Lewis Carroll, Barbara Bush, and Kathy Lee
And when frustrated, they may revert to the pattern Gifford. Other reported examples are Barry Manilow,
of absorbing and getting stuck in others' negative Sammy Davis, Jr., Kathy Bates, John Denver, and Pat
feelings. A Two-wing-One woman had been going back Boone.
and forth between two possible responses to a sticky
family situation for several days. She felt an obligation
to travel to a distant location to support her mother and
other family members through a crisis, but she didnt
want to become embroiled in their habitual negativity.
Her Seven-wing-Eight mother had even told her not to
come, but that refusal of help was obviously part of a
dysfunctional pattern of her own.
When the daughter tried to think about her dilemma,
she regressed into an inverse-Seven state and just felt
despondent. Using NLP, I guided her into the detached
Five state and asked her to examine objectively not only Point Three is a combination of Perspectives Seven
every relevant scenario she could think of but also her and Eight.
present experience of being unable to choose and feeling Two-wing-Threes are notorious for expressing
bad about it. By the time she completed the exercise, she almost exclusively positive affect, at least in public.
had already made a decision to go. She easily followed Like most Sevenish people, they would prefer that the
through on her decision. Once there, she found that her dark side be kept out of sight. And if they can add to the
presence was helpful to the family, and she was even happiness of others through their joyous, affirmative,
able to stay detached from the family drama, all of and often passionate attentions, then the environment
which gave her a great sense of satisfaction. becomes that much brighter. People of this type, along
with their cousins the Three-wing-Twos, probably
Differentiations invented business networking and relationship selling.
With Two as the dominant Perspective, this type is
On average, the givingness of One-wing-Twos is openly loving, friendly, and supportive. In fact, people
probably a little less personal and more universalized of this type adapt easily to the desires of their chosen
than that of Two-wing-Ones. The former may be less apt other. Of course, anyone with any sense of self-
to get caught up in the net of the others perennial preservation does the same or pays for it in lost rapport,
neediness. lost sales, or lost influence of some other kind. But this
You also may be able to differentiate these types by type ratchets up adaptability, turning themselves (or
attending to the degree of warmth they emit. One-wing- what they have to offer) into the object of desire. At the
Twos are relatively more distant and cool; Two-wing- extreme, some especially Two-heavy Givers may
Ones are typically more emotive. hesitate to even say what they think for fear that it will
contradict what you want them to think.
This type also incorporates Perspective Eight,
which involves an identification with role or status, and
Two-wing-Threes are known for being status conscious.
Although we usually think of Perspective Eight as being
Structural Enneagram 21
a power position, many Two-wing-Threes are willing to To the degree that they operate from Perspective
hold a subordinate role. If they think their own talents Eight they identify with role, image, status, and achieve-
cant get them far enough, then they may hitch their ments. This means they will probably be competitive
wagon to a rising star. This is the route of seduction and compare themselves to others. Although people
rather than obvious power. with the Seven-Eight or Eight-Nine structure will often
Beyond positive affect and gift-giving its hard to be impelled to challenge others for leadership, Three-
characterize this personality through typical behavior. wing-Twos are more likely to challenge others for moral
Two-wing-Threes may be active or inactive, attractive authority: they want to influence how others think and
or plain, depending upon whom they are wooing. behave.
However, on occasion they will admit that their
particular adaptation to life has prevented them from
fully becoming themselves. They may feel thwarted in
their self-expression. They would like to be more selfish
and creative. One Two-wing-Three told me she feels as
if her creativity has been bottled up. Suppressed drive
can manifest itself as tension in the chest and abdomen
or may be converted into illnesses that have a marked
stress componenthigh blood pressure, adrenal failure,
spinal problems, and diabetes, for example.
Two-wing-Threes may on some level be aware of
These three Perspectives come together to form the
when they are creating an image of themselves and not
following dynamic: The setting is a Sevenish
an authentic self. A Two-wing-Three of my
atmosphere of being immersed and engaged in life.
acquaintance acknowledges that many of her beliefs
Three-wing-Twos want to be happy, so their
and attitudes really belong to her Eight-wing-Nine
environment must be happy, so the people around them
husband and not to herself. To become more authentic,
must be happy, too. Then, from an Eightish need to win
she would need to take on the perspective of the Three-
others over to their point of view, they will give
wing-Four. However, if she made that shift, it would
whatever they think will make important others happy
cause friction with her husband, who does not want a
(Two). Often they will motivate people to achieve their
more independent partner.
own happiness.
This particular dynamic requires that Three-wing-
Twos craft a positive image of themselves. Negativity
Three-wing-Two
must be brushed aside. Three-wing-Twos are always, in
The Motivator
a sense, on stage, acting a role. This often means
attention to wardrobe, spending hours in the gym, and
Motivators are exceedingly charming. They have a
speaking well, among many other possible factors.
need to be happy, and to accomplish that they also need
Maintaining an image can become a compulsion.
the people around them to be happy. Since they often
Probable examples of personality type Three-wing-
play the part that they believe will win the other over,
Two are Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Mary Kay Ash,
they may be professional entertainers of one kind or
Mike Huckabee, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Cosby,
another. They are naturally enthusiastic people who
Anthony Robbins, John Edwards, and Lance
infect others with their optimism and drive.
Armstrong. Other reported examples are Elvis Presley,
Combination Perspective Three incorporates
Burt Reynolds, Christopher Reeve, and Sylvester
Perspectives Seven and Eight.
Stallone.
To the degree that Three-wing-Twos rely on
In everyday life you will recognize Two-wing-
Perspective Seven, they would like to express
Threes as hosts, entertainers, and motivators. As
exclusively positive affect: they know theres a dark
motivators, they typically try to inspire people to change
side, but ordinarily they dont see any point in giving
at a personal level rather than trying to make societal or
voice to it. I suspect that this is the most likely type to
institutional reforms. You can follow this pattern clearly
believe that the most important thing in the world is to
in Bill Cosbys career. He started out as an entertainer
be happy.
and has hosted a television game show. The Cosby Show
Perspective Two influences them to think in terms
had an inspirational element and is credited with helping
of giving and service to others. Three-wing-Twos like
to change white America's view of African Americans.
people and want to help and encourage them.
Structural Enneagram 22
Currently, he is a motivational speaker and writer who Perspective Seven makes Three-wing Fours
emphasizes personal boot-strapping rather than enthusiastic and committed, and sometimes overly
institutional change. emotional. When in balance, they can use Perspective
Cosby also demonstrates that you cannot always Five (the other Perspective in the Seven-Five binary)
recognize Three-wing-Twos by their dapper appear- quite effectively. But when something happens to make
ance. He doesnt have to worry about his physical them feel insecure, they double down on Perspective
image. It is enough that he is a highly educated African Seven
American role model who has become extremely Perspective Four makes Three-wing-Fours indi-
wealthy and successful through his own efforts, and that vidualistic and original. They want to distinguish
is the impression that matters to his current audience. themselves in some way in order to give evidence of
Three-wing-Twos may strive to demonstrate some their difference.
virtue, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who achieved fame
as a model of fitness. Like motivational guru Anthony
Robbins, this personality works hard to acquire the skills
and success necessary to make a mark.
Although the emphasis on image might imply that
Three-wing-Twos will always be superficial, that is not
the case. This strategy of projecting a positive image is
not only adaptive, it can also propel them toward true
personal growth. At the end of his acting career,
Schwarzenegger expanded his talents toward childhood
fitness and nutrition programs and then into politics. Perspective Eight influences them to want to have
Before he could attract followers, Robbins had to an audience and to be motivated by achievement. They
improve his own life in a substantial way through may be interested in teaching others how to do what they
practicing what he preached. I know a Three-wing-Two do.
minister who has developed a deep spiritual practice. Three-wing-Fours earn success and recognition
Three-wing-Twos' craving for admiration very often through accomplishing self-determined goals, by being
propels them toward becoming authentically admirable the best at something or projecting the best image.
people. Probable examples of personality type Three-wing-
Four are Paul McCartney, Sting, and Taylor Swift. Other
Differentiations reported examples are Johnnie Cochran, Michael
Jordan, Bryant Gumbel, Salman Rushdie, Andy Warhol,
Two-wing-Three leans more toward being a host Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Werner
and Three-wing-Two is more of a motivator: Two-wing- Erhard, Andrew Cohen, David Copperfield, and Ben
Three Kathy Lee Gifford and Three-wing-Two Oprah Kingsley.
Winfrey are both televisions hosts, but Oprah almost Since Three-wing-Fours feel they have to work so
always has a self-improvement angle. hard for recognition, they often feel inauthentic. If they
shownot their real selvesbut their whole self, they
fear they may lose the love and respect of others. If even
Three-wing-Four in their own minds they identify too closely with their
The Achiever image, this is, of course, the definition of narcissism.
But healthy narcissism is an absolute requirement of
Achievers are driven and resourceful people who worldly success. Image is properly thought of as merely
strive to create and control their own images and their the atmosphere one creates around one's true self. At
own lives in order to be recognized as exceptional. They best, it's a projection of the true self into the
are skilled at gaining rapport by fitting into their chosen environment.
milieuexcept that theyre often the best at what they Werner Erhard, who is reported to be a Three-wing-
do and the smartest guys in the room. Whether because Four, may embody the term checkered past, and some
of or in spite of all this striving, they are typically both people who took his est training decry its indoctrinating,
successful and likable. even brainwashing tone. But that doesnt detract from
Since Combination Perspective Three unites the fact that he offered a toolkit of useful self-
Perspectives Seven and Eight, this type incudes Seven, improvement tactics. And, if he is indeed a Three-wing-
Two and Eight.
Structural Enneagram 23
Four, then perhaps his teachings would be especially Simon, Naomi Judd, Steve Martin, Laurence Olivier,
good for that personality. John Malkovich, and Judy Garland.
Some of his teachings involve loosening up the
dependence on Perspective Seven and being more
comfortable with Five. This means cultivating a
willingness to look at the whole of reality and even to
be comfortably aware of the dark side. For example, in
an interview with John Denver, who was guest-hosting
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Erhard
advised that people get in touch with the person theyre
afraid they are. He then demonstrated a technique for
giving a space to evil. With Tom Snyder he talked
about looking at the big picture: Take the blinders off
and look at it. Both interviews are available on
YouTube.
If Three-wing-Fours make better use of Perspective Differentiations
Five to accept themselves warts and all, they may be
able to incorporate some of the better leadership Sometimes you can tell the difference between the
characteristics of Eight-wing-Nines and be less subject two types in the Three-Four structure just by looking at
to unwanted bouts of negative emotion. their clothes. Three-wing-Fours want to dress for
success, so they will usually prefer to look stylish but
also appropriate. Four-wing-Threes want to emphasize
Four-wing-Three their uniqueness, so their dress may appear costumey or
The Individualist even eccentric.
Although they may be found in many lines of work,
Since they view life as art, whether creating music, it is good if they can somehow utilize their knack for
running a business, or putting together a wardrobe, being dreamers, poets, and artists. I know a Three-wing-
Individualists perform with flair. They win acclaim by Four who is a minister, but not the kind that heads one
being both original and outstanding. church; rather, she travels, giving clever and profound
As explained previously, point Three unites sermons at many churches. I know another who works
Perspectives Seven and Eight. at a veterinary office and communicates with pets.
Having associated Perspective Seven, Four-wing-
Threes are engaged and engaging. They throw
themselves into life and try to set a positive tone. There Four-wing-Five
can be some emotional volatility if the environment is The Artist
difficult, but they will bounce back. Sometimes, when
talking to others, it seems as if they dont have a filter. The Artist is all about creating something new and
Although they have this penchant for getting caught different. Four-wing-Fives dont fit in with the crowd.
up in experiences, they are very independent when it Quite the opposite. They are seldom moved by
comes to deciding what to do with their own lives. convention, tradition, or the will of another, although
Perspective Four makes them outsiders with the desire they may go along to avoid confrontation. This
to create something unique. Ultimately, the thing they independence shows up in Four-wing-Fives artistic
are trying to create is a better version of themselves, and creativity, original thinking, or bohemian style. Not
they will go to great lengths of self-improvement and every Four-wing-Five is literally an artist, but all bring
training to do so. individuality and artistic sensibility to whatever they do.
With their Eightish requirements for a good self- Self-expression above all!
image and self-esteem, Four-wing-Threes are sure to be People of this type are introverted, brainy,
both affable and ambitious. If criticized, they develop insightful, and enigmatic. Their individuality can stretch
thick skin and try again. all the way to idiosyncratic self-absorption. They
One probable example of personality type Four- alternate between cool and emotional. They are
wing-Three is Cyndi Lauper. Other reported examples romantic dreamers as well as romantic philosophers.
are Tennessee Williams, Marcel Proust, E. M. Forster,
Michael Jackson, Jessica Lange, Jeremy Irons, Paul
Structural Enneagram 24
their field of endeavor, they are iconoclasts who bristle
at authority. Under difficult conditions, they may
become reclusive.
With Five as their dominant Perspective, Five-wing-
Fours are detached from their environment, which
means they are looking on as if from the outside rather
than immersing themselves in the scene. Although they
may seem emotionally distant, they dont want to be
rejected by other people, so they strive to prove their
own worth and the worth of their ideas.
Structural Enneagram 29
Differentiations them. Here we should keep in mind that manipulating
people needn't always be a bad thing.
Since Six-Sevens use Perspective One, their chan- Probable examples of personality type Seven-wing-
neling of the others desire seems more sublimated, Eight are Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ernest
more universalized than that of Two-Threes, who take Hemingway, Malcolm Forbes, Timothy Ferriss,
the others needs upon themselves in a more personal Federico Fellini, Cary Grant, Harry Houdini, and
way. Howard Stern. Other report Seven-wing-Eights are
Six-wing-Sevens may lean even more than the other Marlene Dietrich, Joan Collins, Joan Rivers, Phyllis
personality in the Six-Seven structural pair toward Diller, Helen Gurley Brown, George Plimpton, Noel
universalized expression. Think of Tom Hankss war Coward, Cole Porter, David Niven, Larry King, Lauren
memorial projects. Bacall, Judith Krantz, Jacqueline Susann, Susan Lucci,
and Geraldo Rivera.
In The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live
Seven-wing-Eight Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Crown 2007),
The Excitement Seeker Timothy Ferriss issues the Seven-wing-Eight manifesto,
extolling the benefits and the possibility of designing a
People of this extraverted personality are fully and life and career that will make you happy. Oh, and, by the
often fearlessly engaged in experiencing the world. way, the opposite of happy is not sad, it's bored. In fact,
Having Perspective Seven dominant keeps them the real meaning of happiness is excitement! (p. 51).
fully engaged in the environment. They like enjoyable That's where I got the name for the Seven-wing-Eight
and exciting activities, which includes acquiring personality type: the Excitement Seeker.
material goods, and when things go badly, their
activities and their possessions help them escape from a
harsh or boring reality. Eight-wing-Seven
Having Perspective Eight makes Seven-wing- The Rebel
Eights want success in the eyes of the world. They may
be strong leaders like John F. Kennedy, who was Rebels seek autonomy and freedom. In practice,
probably a Seven-wing-Eight. Kennedys ability to these bad boys tend to go for the opposite of what is
think counter to accepted opinions shows in his handling the opposite of what other people wantso that they are
of the Cuban missile crisis. Or, if it's peacetime and their in fact still tethered to the other's desire, only in a
rebellious instincts are stronger than any desire to lead, negative way. Nevertheless, Eight-wing-Sevens are
they may more closely resemble Joan Rivers and often able to amass the power to succeed.
Howard Stern, who can be blunt, callous, and even Lyndon B. Johnson, Miley Cyrus, Richard Bandler,
obnoxious in their continual pursuit of saying the Courtney Love, Allison DuBois, and Sylvia Browne are
opposite of what the world thinks they should. probably Eight-wing-Sevens. Other reported examples
of personality type Eight-wing-Seven are G. I.
Gurdjieff, Donald Trump, Henry Kissinger, Richard
Burton, Sean Connery, Harvey Keitel, Bella Abzug,
Norman Mailer, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Roseanne
Barr, Leona Helmsley, Muhammad Ali, Richard
Wagner, Sarah Palin, Al Capone, Ferdinand Marcos,
Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Moammar Gadhafi, Idi
Amin, and Jim Jones.
Eight-wing-Sevens have been said to be the most
Although many of them would probably have liked independent personality. That reputation probably rests
to ambivalently include Perspective Four in their skill on the fact that they expend the most effort toward
set (in which case they would have been Three-wing- achieving autonomy of desire. True autonomy of desire
Fours), Excitement Seekers instead remain enmeshed (Perspective Four) would, in fact, be their direction of
with others in a variation of Perspective Two. When they personal growth. But people of this personality type
take Perspective Two, putting themselves in the position have issues with their mothers similar to those of their
of the other, they are likely to do one of two things. cousins the Seven-wing-Eights. Even when Eight-wing-
Either they spurn or rebel against others' desires, or they Sevens seem to idealize their mothers, they have
use their knowledge of others' desires to manipulate underlying experiences of neglect or conditional love.
Structural Enneagram 30
The more stuck Eight-wing-Sevens are in
personality, the more autonomy eludes them, as they
repeatedly revert to rebellionwhich, far from being Probable examples of personality type Eight-wing-
independence of the others desire is merely the inverse Nine are Franklin D. Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, George W.
of it. Nevertheless, that drive for autonomy makes Bush, John McCain, Ann Richards, Lee Iacocca, Dick
Eight-wing-Seven a highly motivated personality. They Clark, Vince Lombardi, and Robert Altman. Other
are often entrepreneurs, promoters, and other kinds of reported examples are Winston Churchill, Indira
risk takers. If they are in politics, they may be Gandhi, Golda Meir, Martin Luther King, Jr., H. Ross
revolutionaries, transformational leaders, or mavericks. Perot, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Janet Reno,
Eight-wing-Sevens want to be in control, to be the Charlton Heston, Johnny Cash, Barbara Walters, Ed
subjective agents, mastering their objects, whether Asner, and John Wayne.
through persuasion, magnanimity, competitive Dick Clark has been listed elsewhere as a Three-
advantage, or confrontation. Perhaps it is the Seven wing-Two. Although he may have presented that cheery
wing that makes them also want to dominate the Motivator's image on camera, accounts of his producing
environment. It would also be great if everyone could and directing style peg him as a dictatorial, demanding
acknowledge their superiority. Boss.
Since they want the opposite of what is, they often Paul Newman has elsewhere been categorized as an
have a talent for reform. They can envision what is not Eight-wing-Nine, but I believe this to have been an
but should be, and, often through manipulation of example of confusing an actor with his roles. To me, the
others, gain power to bring it into existence. But if the affable and philanthropic Newman seems to have been
compulsion to go for the opposite of what others want a Six-wing-Seven, a common type for actors. His
gets too out of control, mayhem will ensue. Maybe it racecar driving is probably an indicator of the Seven
will be a controlled mayhem, as is fairly common in wing.
rockers like Courtney Love. On the other hand, prisons Being the Boss is important to Eight-wing-Nines
are full of Eight-wing-Sevens. What can be a talent and because, to the extent that perspective Eight is
a strength in educated, talented, or well-connected dominant, Eight-wing-Nines feel that they are what
people can become a curse for someone who is not in a other people recognize them to be. They identify with
position to legally grab the bull by the horns. their role, their performance, their status in a hierarchy.
In their ideal hierarchy, the people below them
recognize them as a superior and a leader and are
Eight-wing-Nine rewarded for doing so. The people above them are their
The Boss authorities, whose recognition and approval they in turn
require. Even a United States president may not consider
Self-confident and assertive Bosses are drawn to himself to be always at the top of a hierarchy since he
leadership roles, whether in organizations or personal may answer to advisers, Congress, corporate donors, or
relationships. They regularly challenge others for an anthropomorphic God. Eight-wing-Nines need
authority but will be affable about it unless the others reassurance that they are doing their duty by upholding
resist them, and then the fight is on. But when the and enforcing the will of whatever authority they
contest is over they will probably shake hands and subscribe to.
respect the outcome. Having perspective Five means this type is self-
contained and not dependent on atmospherics for their
feelings. Using perspective Four, Eight-wing-Nines feel
Structural Enneagram 31
their difference from others and dont need to lean on being weak in that same area. Still, Bush seemed to truly
others to decide what to do. want to be able to claim this moral high ground.
In general, Eight-wing-Nines give more thought to
personal or tribal rather than universal considerations.
Their actions are governed by their allegiancesthe Nine-wing-Eight
authorities to which they bow and the in-group they The Mediator
protect and lead. Their own tribe is always right, as can
be observed in lawsuits, in which Eight-wing-Nines Mediators have strong egos, but they also have the
sometimes refer to their side as the good guys and the knack of winning the cooperation of others with less
other side as the bad guys. strife than their Eight-wing-Nine cousins. Their good-
Perhaps because of the need to always know where natured, agreeable manner inspires trust. They are
they stand and how they can move up the ladder, Eight- natural leaders who have the ability to smooth over
wing-Nines are people watchers. They can sniff out differences and organize groups toward a common goal.
others motives; Phil Dr. Phil McGraw, who probably Since Perspective Nine is a combination of
has this personality, was a jury selection specialist, and Perspectives Five and Four, we have to look at those
his ability to size people up quickly now drives his components first. Perspective Five gives Nine-wing-
performance as a television psychologist. Eights the ability to take a step back and study the big
When overusing Perspective Eight way of thinking, picture. Perspective Four gives them the space to decide
everything can be personalized, or anthropo- on their own course of action rather than being wedded
morphized, even countries and organizations. The to or merely reacting to other people's wants.
United States government is still our Uncle Sam, but his
name is changed depending on the president who is in
office. Similarly, people personalize the Constitution
when they try to interpret it through the founding
fathers original intent.
Personalities that rely on Perspective One, the
binary opposite of Eight, might define good citizenship
as acting in conformance with a set of guiding
principles. From Perspective Eight, you would be more
likely to extol loyaltypatriotismand belief in
country as though it were an actual thing rather than an Perspective Eight gives Nine-wing-Eights a concern
abstract or legal idea. In an article called McCains with position and status. But since Eight is not the
Embarrassing Last Act in The Daily Beast dominant type, they may be less insistent than Eight-
(thedailybeast.com), Tunku Varadarajan quotes a wing-Nines on being in control. As Riso and Hudson
colleague of Eight-wing-Nine John McCains: state, Nine-wing-Eights have an ability to subordinate
What you need to know is that he really does themselves to others (Personality Types, 371). But
believe in duty, honor, country... and he is an they do seek and hold leadership positions.
American hero. But he thinks that is all there is. Probable examples of personality type Nine-wing-
He has no deep interest or principle on any Eight are Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Other
other subject. Every other issue has become reported examples are Gerald Ford, Kevin Costner,
personal with him, viewed through politics or Gary Cooper, Woody Harrelson, Keanu Reeves, Ingrid
pique. He is a patriot for whom most other Bergman, Geena Davis, Sophia Loren, Ringo Starr,
issues are simply situational, which is why he Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Bing Crosby, Walter
can change so easily on them. Cronkite, Hugh Downs, and Lady Bird Johnson.
So this brings up the question, do Eight-wing-Nines Coming out of the military, former president Dwight
aspire to be moved more by principle, like a Nine-One? Eisenhower exemplifies the Nine-wing-Eight ability to
During the 2004 election campaign against John Kerry, occupy both subordinate and superior rungs in a
probably a One-wing-Nine, George W. Bush repeatedly hierarchy. Although Eisenhower had not seen military
accused Kerry of being unprincipled and claimed the action, during World War II his administrative skills and
attribute of being principled for himself. Certainly, that talent for leadership and diplomacy propelled him up the
would have been consistent with a Karl Rove tactic: find ranks to the command of the Allied troops in Europe.
out the oppositions strength, and then attack them for
Structural Enneagram 32
His success in that role later propelled him into the that they lack self-awareness. Rather, I believe this
presidency. result merely exposes deficiencies in the conventional
Perspectives Five and Four would appear to clash Enneagram understanding of personalities. When Nine-
with Eight in that Five and Four drive interior behavior, wing-Ones find many personality characteristics within
while Eight drives external, interpersonal behavior. But, themselves, it is probably because they are more
in fact, the three Perspectives hang together quite integrated than most. Whether you see it in them or not,
seamlessly, even though it may appear otherwise to the they sense within themselves many of the characteristics
outside observer. In My Father at 100 (Viking 2011), typically listed for the majority of the Enneagram points.
Ron Reagan describes his father, Ronald Reagan, as
simultaneously warm yet remote (p. 9). Even as he
acted out his extraverted roles as father, actor, and
politician, another, quieter Reagan, just as vital, rested
invisibly beneath the waves; that quieter Reagan was
the producer and director for the man onstage (p. 13).
Ron Reagan's analysis of his father goes some distance
to illustrate how Five and Four, the behind-the-scenes,
producer-director perspectives, interact with the out-
front perspective Eight to create the Nine-wing-Eight
personality.
For example, although Nine-wing-Ones generally
Differentiations use detached Perspective Four, they do get good rapport
and typically make others feel comfortable. This leads
In the conventional Enneagram, Nines (a single- me to conclude that most of them must not be shut out
number type) are said to be peacemakers. In the of Perspective Two since, as I believe, the ability to enter
Structural Enneagram, Nine-wing-Eights want every- the others mental or perceptual space is necessary for
one to accede to their authority; Nine-wing-Ones want rapport.
everything to conform to their ideals. Thus would peace Still, Perspective Four is often the one that is hardest
and harmony be achieved in differing ways for each for people to discern in Nine-wing-Ones. It is true that
type. some of them may have difficulty formulating goals
based on their own desires, and this can be perceived as
a deficiency in a Three-type culture that valorizes goal-
Nine-wing-One setting.
The Peacemaker Being less influenced than most by perspective
Eights need for interpersonal validation, Nine-wing-
With their pleasant, easy-going personas, Nine- Ones generally take things somewhat less personally.
wing-Ones are frequently underestimated. Some This, along with their reliance on detached Perspective
conventional Enneagram writers describe them as lazy Five, allows them to see all sides of an issue. Having the
and indifferent; however, many are quite industrious and One component, they have a strong sense of purpose,
effective. At its highest intensity, this personality melds although it may not be a reality-shifting purpose.
penetrating insight into what makes people and societies Finally, Nine-wing-Ones concerns and aspirations
tick with soaring dreams as to what they may become. will be found at the intersection of reality and their
Probable examples of personality type Nine-wing- ideals. If there is a good enough match, they will be
One are Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, Carl Jung, content and relatively non-activist. If there is not a
Joseph Campbell, Queen Elizabeth II, George Lucas, match, then their choice of goals is apparent: they must
and Pope John Paul II. Other reported examples are either withdraw from that particular environment or
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Disney, Jimmy Stewart, change it. If Nine-wing-Ones have adopted a view of
Garrison Keillor, Princess Grace of Monaco, George themselves as intellectuals, then they will obviously
Lucas, and the Dalai Lama. need to educate an uninformed world. If they view
When I have given my own sorting test based on themselves as spiritual, then they will model holiness for
conventional Enneagram types to Nine-wing-Ones, they a materialistic society. If they have had instilled in them
resonated with six to eight of the personalities (but never a sense of their obligation to lead, then they will study,
with type Eight). Other have cited similar results as plan, and act toward that end. They unpretentiously
evidence that Nines are out of touch with themselves,
Structural Enneagram 33
allow themselves to be used and used up on behalf of One-wing-Nines, even if they work in the corporate
their goals. world, are teachers, reformers, moralists, and philo-
sophers. They are, if anything, more idealistic than the
other wing in this pair. They can be somewhat ascetic,
One-wing-Nine suppressing impulses that do not accord with their
The Idealist principles. And they can be intolerant of the weaknesses
and hypocrisies of others. You are likely to find them
Idealists want to express and embody their values engaged in convincing others to live up to their own
and beliefs, so they push for reforms on either a local or professed ideals. With respect to the greater good, they
a more universal level. They want things to be done see themselves as not only reformers but also rescuers,
according to their own guiding principles. Through saving people from themselves and each other, but
teaching, writing, leading, and mentoring, they attempt primarily from wrong thinking.
to convince people to overcome groupthink and adopt In my observation, One-wing-Nines, more than any
principled, self-reliant thought and action. other type, have a tendency to occupy the place of an
abstract ideato represent an idea and act on its behalf.
This Perspective-One ability to think from the place of
an idea was illustrated by a former teacher of mine, who
would muse, I wonder what wants to be said on this
topic. People of other types dont typically consider
that an idea might want something.
Differentiations
Forward-Evolution of Consciousness
Understanding your personality may be only half I continue to research and write about the Structural
the story. For many people, the second half is putting Enneagram and its applications, and in the coming
that understanding to work in order to evolve months I will be making more of that work available.
consciousness to the point where they can get what they Please check my website for updates.
want out of life.
Of course, some people are not on any such
trajectory; they are right where they should be for now. Jean Adeler, Ph.D.
But for those wanting to upshift personal consciousness StructuralEnneagram.com
to a higher level, the Structural Enneagram is a good September 14, 2014
place to start.
It should be obvious to those familiar with NLP that
the Structural Enneagram is full of implications for
change work using NLP techniques. The Structural
Enneagram is also highly useful in the interpretation of
dreams, fantasies, and behavioral patterns.
Structural Enneagram 34