The Enneagram Explained

The Enneagram is a personality typology system that organizes human character into nine distinct types, each representing a core pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The word itself comes from the Greek 'ennea' (nine) and 'gramma' (something written or drawn) — literally a nine-pointed figure.

Unlike systems such as Myers-Briggs (MBTI), which categorizes people into 16 types based on dichotomous preferences, or the Big Five (OCEAN) model, which measures traits on a spectrum, the Enneagram focuses on core motivations, fears, and desires — the 'why' behind behavior, not just the 'what.'

• Nine interconnected personality types arranged in a circle

• Each type is driven by a core motivation and a core fear

• The system emphasizes growth, self-awareness, and inner transformation

• Widely used in personal development, therapy, and organizational culture

• Referenced alongside MBTI and Big Five as a leading psychometric framework