What is the Enneagram?

Enneagram Institute

The Enneagram (any-a-gram; ennea is Greek nine, and gram means drawing) is a circle enclosing nine equidistant points connected by nine intersected lines. This symbol has its roots in the Middle East in ancient spiritual traditions.

As we know it today, the Enneagram is a personality typology model. It is a simple yet sophisticated tool used for self discovery. The nine points represent the ways in which nine different personality types perceive and defend their realities.

Riso-Hudson define the nine types with the names:

Type 1 - The Reformer
Type 2 - The Helper
Type 3 - The Achiever
Type 4 - The individualist
Type 5 - The investigator
Type 6 - The Loyalist
Type 7 - The Enthusiast
Type 8 - The Challenger
Type 9 - The Peacemaker

No one personality type is better than the others. We have all nine types in us. However, we do have one particular style that is uniquely ours. By understanding our self and what drives and influences us, we can then better understand others and how we relate to them.

*Information on each of the nine Riso-Hudson type names  and related Enneagram concepts are from the
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