Our desire for self-understanding is as old as humanity itself. We’re not sure who first asked, “Who am I?” while looking inward. But it’s an old question. The Delphic maxim “know thyself” is credited to Thales of Miletus, a Greek philosopher from the sixth century BC. But gaining self-knowledge can be a challenging task. We often hold both accurate and inaccurate views about ourselves. Some are looking to the enneagram, a model of human personality, to gain better insights. But where did it come from, and how does it work? Keep reading for a brief guide on this fascinating and controversial personality typing system.
Geometry, Personality, and Core Desires
The term “enneagram” refers to both a geometric figure and its accompanying personality typing schema. The Enneagram Institute shows a star-like diagram with nine points inscribed in a circle. The points are numbered in clockwise order, starting with one and ending with nine. Each point connects with two others in the diagram. The lines joining points three, six, and nine create an equilateral triangle.
The enneagram’s nine points each correspond to a core personality type. Enneagram enthusiasts use the type numbers as shorthand–type Five, type One, and so forth. Other sources use nicknames for every type. For instance, Eclectic Energies calls type Five “The Investigator” and type One “The Reformer.”
All the types have distinct characteristics and behaviors, most driven by inner desires or fears. Our example type Five individual wants to be capable and competent. By nature, this person would fear being useless or inept. Also, each type can share some of the others’ qualities. A Five may share a little of type Four’s desire to be creative, unique, and authentic. A type Five person can also wish to be reliable, trustworthy, and loyal like a type Six.
Fascinating and Complicated Origins
Just where did the enneagram come from? It depends on who you ask. There are so many claims about its origins. People have pointed to Christianity’s Desert Fathers, Sufi mystics, ancient Jewish philosophers, and even Homer’s Odyssey. We know for certain that Russian mystic George Gurdjieff was one of the first to teach it in the West.
Now, here’s where the confusion begins. There’s no documentation of when Gurdjieff began teaching the enneagram. Franciscan priest Fr. Richard Rohr, another enneagram scholar, mentions the symbol as part of Gurdjieff’s philosophy. His Fourth Way, which he also called “The Work,” emphasized self-development involving the mind, body, and emotions.
But Gurdjieff did not develop the enneagram personality system. Rohr credits Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo and Bolivian philosopher Oscar Ichazo. Owlcation contributor Brian Leekley mentions Ichazo’s enneagram concepts originating in the 1970s. Naranjo learned from Ichazo, then expanded them further and shared his ideas with author Helen Palmer.
Ichazo later sued Palmer for copyright infringement and lost. But Palmer’s work generated more interest in the enneagram. She’s one of many teaching and adding to its concepts, along with people like Don Riso, Russ Hudson, and Fr. Rohr.
A Variety of Opinions
The enneagram has both fans and skeptics. Those who like the system feel that it describes their motivations, fears, and how to grow beyond them. They find its concepts useful for self-understanding and development. Meanwhile, critics call it pseudoscience at best and heresy at worst. Some say the personality types’ characteristics are too vague to be accurate and meaningful. Criticism of the enneagram is also growing among evangelical Christians. Opponents say that it encourages more focus on the self rather than traditional salvation doctrines.
Humans look to a wide range of tools, teachers, and resources to help them understand themselves. The enneagram is only one of these, but it views personality through a different lens. If its proponents are correct, knowing our motivations is key to pursuing and achieving personal growth.