The Enneagram Personality Test
For the last couple of days Laura and I have been obsessed with the Enneagram personality test. Here are two good tests you can take for free online. I suggest taking both and comparing the results for a more accurate reading. Here are brief descriptions of the nine types.
The Enneagram is similar to the Myers-Briggs personality sorter in that both tests explain motivations and ways we relate to the world, however the Enneagram seems to have more constructive feedback to offer. Enneagram is presented as a tool for growth towards more balanced, healthy personality. Maybe that’s why we are so interested in the Enneagram right now.
From our assessments, Laura is a type 9 wing 8 (9w8) and I am a type 1 wing 2 (1w2). The first number is our dominant type and the wing number is our secondary tendency in that type (check here for wing descriptions).
Then you can check out your Instinctual Variant by taking this test. These variants reflect your primary drive or insecurity. Here is a link to descriptions of the variants as they appear in each type.
Once you have determined your type you can find all sorts of interesting information about it. Here are some of the best Enneagram sites:
Here is a chart that shows the correlations between various personality sorters.
We are also consulting Don Riso and Russ Hudson’s book Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery. The book does not include any tests, but has very detailed descriptions of each type including the wings.
Just like anything else, we ask you to take the Enneagram with a grain of salt. It is a fun and potentially useful way to look at your personality, but it can be taken to potentially unhealthy extremes.
I took the two tests and I’m pretty much smeared across all 9 types:
Here were my scores:
Test 1:
type 1 - 2
type 2 - 2
type 3 - 6
type 4 - 4
type 5 - 5
type 6 - 4
type 7 - 5
type 8 - 3
type 9 - 5
result: inconclusive, but maybe type 3?
test 2:
type 1 - -2
type 2 - -5
type 3 - 0
type 4 - 3
type 5 - 3
type 6 - -3
type 7 - 9
type 8 - -6
type 9 - 1
result: strong type 7 with really weak 6 and 8 so hard to say which wing, and nothing really matches with the first test
Anyway, for now I’ll go with type 7. As for Myers-Briggs, I’m an ENTP
In other news I went to the Ron Paul rally here (and the Obama one as well) and had a lot of fun.
Yep, it looks like a 7. Very interesting. I’m a 1 and I’m supposed to strive to be more like a 7 to get into balance or something.
Wish I could have been at the Ron Paul rally. Sounds cool.