791
Type #6--The dependable, admiring follower: likable,
engaging, friendly, loyal, trustworthy, concerned with making friends.
May become indecisive and insecure but remains devoted and a "team
player." Their compulsive fears are of rejection, being alone, and
especially condemnation by an authority figure. Their drive is to follow
all the rules, to be approved, and to be secure (without becoming self-
reliant).
Type #7--The happy hedonist: enthusiastic, practical, playful,
accomplished, enjoying life, knows and wants the best of everything.
May become materialistic, hyperactive, easily frustrated, and
compelled to buy new "toys" and find new ways to have fun, including
alcohol and drugs. Their fear is of deprivation and boredom. Their
compulsions are to avoid personal pain, not even see it in others' lives,
to put off anything unpleasant, and to have more of everything. Life
should be fun.
Type #8--The conquering hero: strong, assertive, "can-do"
attitude, loves challenges, natural leader, champion of causes. May
become a risk-taking entrepreneur or a righter of wrongs, intimidating
or "having it out" with others and feeling he/she must get his/her way.
The driving force underlying this personality is a fear of being
dominated or the avoidance of weakness. They favor radical change
(by them).
Type #9--The complacent pacifist: accepting, patient,
unpretentious, open, relaxed, just a nice reassuring person. May
become too submissive or accommodating, too self-effacing, too
indifferent, and falsely reassure others in order to gain peace at any
price. They fear conflict and separation from others due to conflicts.
They will do anything for harmony, even deny reality. Their approach
is: "What's the big deal anyway?"
The best way to use these nine brief descriptions is to go back
through the list and identify your basic personality type by noting
primarily the positive characteristics because that is what we know
best about ourselves. Then, your insight should come from noting the
underlying (unconscious?) fears and compulsions of your personality
type. Next, you need to spend a lot of time considering possible ways
your hidden fears or desires have influenced your life. By becoming
more aware of these hidden needs or forces within you, perhaps you
can see yourself in a different light and find better ways to cope with
your problems. I'd encourage you to read more about the Enneagram
personality types.
Judith Sills (1993) takes a similar approach; she argues that good
qualities often have unwanted side effects or "excess baggage."
Examples: a well organized person may insist that things be done
his/her way; a bright, informed person may so need to be right that
he/she can't admit being wrong; a person with noticeably high self-
esteem may feel superior; an interesting, warm, engaging person may
be driven by strong needs to be the center of attention; a person who
