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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - THE ENNEAGRAM
Q: Don’t typing systems just put people into a box?
A1: There are two kinds of people in the world: the
good people who don’t like typing systems and the bad people who do
like typing systems. Interestingly, that sentence is a typing
system; it puts everyone into one of two categories and that
differentiation gives us some information that is helpful in
understanding people. The Enneagram does the same thing with 9, and
more. It gives us information that is helpful in understanding
ourselves and others.
A2: The truth is that we are all already in a box
called our Enneagram type. We primarily function on automatic.
Learning about the Enneagram is one way to get out of that box. By
clearly seeing our reactive habits, we can relax the automatic
reflex and begin to choose more effective alternatives. There is
nothing wrong with our type; it is just limited. Extending our range
of behaviors, emotions and thoughts brings us greater emotional
intelligence, success, and happiness.
Q: Does a person’s Enneagram type change over time?
A: From the time your primary type is determined, you
keep it for your entire life. As we gain emotional intelligence and
wisdom, our patters of thinking, feeling, and acting may evolve, but
the underlying motivation and world view will remain. Think of it as
vertical growth within type rather than a horizontal change of type.
It should be noted, too, that we take on qualities of other types
episodically when under stress or during extended periods of growth.
See “Wings
and Arrows” for more information.
Q: When does a person develop their Enneagram type?
A: It isn’t clear. Some believe you are born with your type,
but most people agree that by the time a person is about 5 years
old, the type has been established but may not be clearly apparent
for another few years. The capability of self-observation is limited
until adolescence, so self-identification of type is limited until
then as well. There has been a study completed of identical twins
which showed twins are actually less likely to be the same type than
two random people, but they are more likely to be types connected by
a line than random. From that, I conclude that there is some genetic
link and some individual differentiation; either in the womb or in
early childhood.
Q: Where did the word “Enneagram” originate?
A: It refers to the symbol. “Ennead” means 9; “gram”
means drawing. So, Enneagram is literally a 9-pointed symbol. If the
Pentagon were 9-sided, we’d call it the Enneagon.
Q: Is it better to be a 1 or a 9? What significance are the numbers?
A: The Enneagram is an egalitarian system; all numbers
and all types are equal. The numbers are commonly used as names but
don’t have any meaning in terms of the value of the type; just the
order in which they appear on the Enneagram symbol. Each type is
different with unique gifts and challenges but no better or worse
than another type.
Q: Are certain type pairs more compatible in relationship than
others?
A: No, not based on Enneagram type. Just as all 9
types have equally great strengths and equally difficult challenges,
each of the potential 45 (9!) pairs of Enneagram types have their
own strengths and challenges. Compatibility comes from values,
emotional intelligence, and other factors. That said, there does
seem to be a trend in pairings. For example, 6-9 couples are quite
common.
Q: Where did the Enneagram come from?
A: The history of the Enneagram is not completely
clear. The symbol itself has been seen in ancient India and was the
subject of Pythagoras.
The symbol was introduced by George Gurdjieff in the early 1900’s as
a model to explain any natural whole phenomenon or process includes
the universal laws of 1, 3, and 7. He claimed to have learned it
from the Sufi’s, although there isn’t clear evidence of this.
The first person known to have used the symbol to explain the 9
personality types was Bolivian Oscar Ichazo, who learned of the
system in the 1950s. The source of his knowledge isn’t clear, but he
has acknowledged some study of the Gurdjieff materials. He began
teaching the Enneagram as part of a broader program in the late
1960s, which continues today as the Arica Institute.
One of Ichazo’s early students was Argentine Psychologist Claudio
Naranjo, who brought the Enneagram to the United States. It spread
to a first wave of important Enneagram teachers including one of my
primary teachers, Helen Palmer.
Helen Palmer later partnered with David Daniels, M. D. and
co-chaired the first International Enneagram Conference at Stanford
University in 1994. Over 1200 people attended!
The archetypes represented by the Enneagram date back thousands of
years (including Homer and The Bible), as well as in modern
literature (including Winnie the Pooh – a wonderful 9 with all other
Enneagram types for friends.)
My personal view is that the Enneagram is a map that was discovered
rather than invented. Similar to the Periodic Table of Elements in
the world of chemistry, the Enneagram explains how the 9 types
relate to one another and fit into the human experience.
Q: How is the Enneagram applied today?
A: Today, it is applied in any arena in which it is
important to people – you name it! Application areas include
personal development, spirituality, psychology, education,
parenting, the arts, and especially professional and leadership
development.
Q: Can the Enneagram help me make hiring decisions for my company?
A: I strongly recommend that you NOT use the Enneagram
for that purpose. As I’ve repeated many times on this website, the
greatest predictor of future success is emotional intelligence. I
highly recommend you select highly emotionally intelligent
candidates for positions with your company. Each type will bring
different strengths to your organization, team, and specific
position. It is helpful to have diversity of views; including
Enneagram styles.
Q: What are some ethical guidelines to using the Enneagram?
A: I belong to the International Enneagram Association
and agree to abide by their ethical standards. Likewise, I embrace
the ethical guidelines laid out by my teacher, David Daniels, M. D.
The first danger in learning the Enneagram is that we begin to
stereotype people. We are not numbers; we are human beings with our
own individual perspectives, experience, and truth. Next, we need to
make sure we respect other people’s boundaries and privacy. Also, we
need to avoid fault-finding and excuse making. We should not limit
our worldview to the Enneagram. There are other sources of insight
and wisdom, too. We need to be mindful not to use the Enneagram
manipulatively for our own personal agendas. Recognize that learning
to use the Enneagram requires time, effort, and commitment. Finally,
as stated above, we should avoid using the Enneagram as a selection
mechanism, either professionally or personally. You don’t need a
“type X”; you need an emotionally intelligent person.
Want even more information? Check out our
book suggestions and
helpful links.
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