Each of the 9 personality types has a liberating virtue as well as a deadly vice ( or passion ), which emerges from the same central dynamic of the personality. There is a tendency on this site that I'm quoting below to use the language that Thomas Aquinas used in describing the "7 deadly sins"-Aquinas didn't know about the sins of type 3 and type 6. The vice of type 7 i feel would be more objectively described as "excessiveness".
wtfaculty.wtamu.edu/~jcraven/Enneagram.htm Quote:
Further information on the 9 types:
1. The Perfectionist (also called The Achiever): Idealistic, principled, orderly and conscientious people. Motivated by their need to be right and to be balanced, they are fearful of being bad or defective.
World View: The world is an imperfect place. I work toward improvement.
Basic Desire: to be right
Basic Fear: of being condemned
strong standards, responsible, honest, ethical, quality-oriented
Wants: Perfection
Needs: Growth
Vice: Anger
Virtue: Serenity
Leadership Style: fair, ethical, methodical, follows standards and procedures
ONE: I am a highly ethical person who believes that there is such a thing as right and wrong. I can be critical of others particularly because I am quality-oriented, and find myself frustrated at times because others don't hold the same standards that I do. I am much more critical of myself than I am of others. I tend to procrastinate at times. I have a keen eye for detecting what's wrong or where the errors are. I find myself overworking at times in an effort to produce a perfect product. I put a lot of energy into what I do.
2. The Helper: Caring, generous, warm and attentive people. Motivated by their need to be needed and loved, they are fearful of not being worthy of being loved.
World View: People depend on my help. I am needed.
Basic Desire: to be loved
Basic Fear: of being unloved
cheery, positive, relational, people/customer-oriented
Wants: Service
Needs: Acceptance
Vice: Pride
Virtue: Humility
Leadership Style: supportive, mentoring, encouraging, warm, friendly
TWO: I would describe myself as a helpful person. I am a good example of a people-person. I have often been a mentor to others and sincerely enjoy bringing out the best in others. I have many personal and business contacts and would describe myself as an extrovert. I have high energy, and am pretty upbeat and optimistic for the most part. I can sense what others may need before they do.
3. The Achiever: Self-confident, adaptable, energetic and outgoing people. Motivated by their need to succeed and be the center of attention, they are fearful of failure and of being worthless.
World View: The world values a champion. Avoid failure at all costs.
Basic Desire: to be admired
Basic Fear: of being rejected
competitive, efficient, goal, task, success-oriented, just do it
Wants: Achievement
Needs: Dependence
Vice: Deceit
Virtue: Truth
Leadership Style: motivational, social task and results-oriented
THREE: I would describe myself as an achiever. I like efficiency, and am always looking for better and more efficient ways of getting things done. Daily, I have long to do lists which I apply a tremendous amount of energy in completing. I genuinely enjoy going after what has to be accomplished - I rarely procrastinate. I often rise to positions of leadership, and I enjoy the limelight. I feel comfortable in front of groups, and I can usually tell how they are responding to me.
4. The Artist (also called The Individualist): Intuitive, creative, sensitive and expressively warm people. Motivated by their need to be special and be understood, they are fearful of being misunderstood.
World View: Something's missing. Others have it. I'm different from them because I don't.
Basic Desire: to understand self
Basic Fear: of being defective
unique, intuitive, creative, aesthetic, get to the heart of the matter
Wants: Excellence
Needs: Reality
Vice: Envy
Virtue: Equanimity
Leadership Style: creative, intuitive, focusing on each persons uniqueness
FOUR: I would describe myself as an intensely idealistic person, particularly when it comes to what I think is possible in the realm of how humans could be with one another. I have a lot of energy. I would describe myself as a reflective, sensitive and creative person. I am deeply moved by what is beautiful to me. I am artistic; full of unrealized potential. Love and beauty interest me. I am emotionally intense and can often be melancholic.
5. The Observer: Analytical, perceptive, reflective and self-contained people. Motivated by their need to know and understand, they are fearful of meaninglessness and of being considered incapable.
World View: The world is invasive and confusing. I need privacy to think.
Basic Desire: to understand the world
Basic Fear: of being overwhelmed by the world
detached, private, non-intrusive, knowledgeable, information-oriented
Wants: Knowledge
Needs: Involvement
Vice: Avarice
Virtue: Detachment
Leadership Style: reflective, systematic, ideas assembled into vision
FIVE: I would describe myself as a quiet, analytic person who is much more of a thinking type in contrast to a feeling type. I am very private, and make great use of my alone/private time. I often rehash my experiences after the fact and, if its been an enjoyable experience, I can savor it long after the event has gone by. I would not describe myself as spontaneous, although in any given moment I can often see the humor in a situation. I'm told that I have a dry wit. I spend lots of time researching the subject matters that are of interest to me. I have an ability to concentrate deeply and a keen sense of observation.
6. The Supporter (also called The Guardian): Loyal, dutiful, hospitable and caring people. Motivated by their need for security and belonging, they are fearful of making mistakes and of not being able to survive on their own.
World View: The world is a threatening place. I need to look to authority, but I question it.
Basic Desire: to be secure
Basic Fear: of being abandoned
logical, good contingency planner, questioning minds, group oriented
Wants: Security
Needs: Faith
Vice: Fear
Virtue: Courage
Leadership Style: team-directed, group-oriented, delegates responsibility
SIX: I would describe myself as a cautious person - someone who is often prepared ahead of time. My mind tends to think readily of contingency plans and worst-case scenarios. My way of making decisions is quite logical, but I can still make a decision and have my doubts about whether it was the right thing to do. I like developing mastery, have many interests, and enjoy being part of a team. I consider myself quite loyal when I can trust someone, and often test people and situations to assess the character and trustworthiness of someone. I can be cause-oriented and have been a champion of the underdog on more than one occasion.
7. The Optimist (also called The Dreamer and The Enthusiast): Fun-loving, gregarious, impulsive and charming people with many irons in the fire. Motivated by their need to be happy, they are fearful of pain and deprivation.
World View: The world is full of opportunity and options. I look forward to the future.
Basic Desire: to be happy
Basic Fear: of being deprived
inspirational, fun-loving, optimistic, novel, imaginative, upbeat
Wants: Happiness
Needs: Balance
Vice: Gluttony
Virtue: Temperance
Leadership Style: inspirational, positive, cheerful, creative ideas
SEVEN: I would describe myself as a high-energy, optimistic kind of person. I genuinely enjoy many things and think life is wonderful and there are bountiful experiences to be had. I have a terrific imagination. At times, planning is almost as much fun as having an experience. I'm very future-oriented. I believe in possibility. I don't see much value in dwelling on anything negative. I sometimes have difficulty committing to ideas or projects because I like keeping things somewhat open-ended. Life is to be enjoyed.
8. The Boss (also called The Confronter and The Leader): Resourceful, self-confident, energetic and earthy people. Motivated by their need to be in control, they are fearful of being vulnerable and at the mercy of others.
World View: The world is an unjust place. I am strong and I defend the innocent.
Basic Desire: to be self-reliant
Basic Fear: of submitting to others
direct, impulsive, fearless, in charge, confrontational, control oriented
Wants: Control
Needs: Tenderness
Vice: Lust
Virtue: Simplicity
Leadership Style: powerful, confident, persuasive, confrontational
EIGHT: I am a can do person. I usually know what it will take to accomplish a job, and I do not shy away from doing what is needed. I can get very angry, but usually when I do it blows over right away. I don't mind a good fight. I lose respect for people who don't stand up for what they believe in. I can be intolerant of stupidity. Once I lose respect for someone, its over I can easily write them off. I can be generous. I like being in control. I like directness I cant stand indirectness or indecisiveness. I don't shy away from opportunity.
9. The Mediator (also called The Peacemaker and The Preservationist): Calm, laid-back, unpretentious and reassuring people. Motivated by their need to be calm and at peace, they are fearful of conflict, separation from others and losing peace of mind.
World View: My efforts won't matter to the world. It's best to keep the peace.
Basic Desire: to find union and peace
Basic Fear: of separation
conflict avoidant, accepting of people and viewpoints, cant say no
Wants: Peace
Needs: Action
Vice: Sloth
Virtue: Diligence
Leadership Style: collaborative, mediating differences well, accommodating
NINE: I can relate well to bits and pieces of virtually every statement I've read so far. People would describe me as laid back. I enjoy things being peaceful and calm. I don't like conflict, and I avoid it, although I am very good at being a mediator for other peoples conflicts and differences. Part of that is due to the fact that I can genuinely see a situation from all perspectives. I see myself as a helpful person for virtually anyone who needs it - at times I've gotten distracted by assisting others and losing my own agenda. I have a great variety of interests.