Unlike other personality typing systems focusing on behaviors, the Enneagram defines each type by its core motivations. Each of the nine enneagram types has a core desire, a core fear, a core weakness, and a core longing. Though each of us can exhibit behaviors that appear as another type (or even a bit of every type), the core motivations are the foundational pieces of figuring out your Enneagram type.
In this post, I’ll be giving an overview of each Enneagram type’s Core Desire. While the core fear is what each type actively tries to avoid, the core desire is the motivation that each Enneagram type is driven toward. It’s the big ‘why’ behind why they do the things they do, often to affirm the type’s sense of self-worth and feeling of purpose, meaning, and value as a person.
Let’s take a look at how this looks for each type.
The Core Desires
Type 1
Enneagram Type 1s, known as the Reformers, are driven by the core desire to be good, correct, ethical, moral, and to have integrity. They are typically known for being upstanding people who follow the rules, are responsible, stand up for what’s right, are principled, can be rather organized and methodical, and seek to fix flaws they see in others, themselves, or their environment.
Type 2
Enneagram 2s are nicknamed the Nurturers. Type 2s will often go out of their way to support, advise, nurture, and take care of others, often to the point of suppressing their own needs and not taking care of themselves. The reason that Type 2s prioritize this is because of their core desire to receive love and appreciation. Type 2s believe that if they go above and beyond to take care of others, they will receive love, appreciation, and validation – a sense of self-worth and value for all that they do for others.
Type 3
The Enneagram Type 3s, known as the Achievers, are highly driven by the desire to be accomplished, successful, admired, and respected. They can be image-conscious, seeking others’ approval of their success (or at least the appearance of success). This can cause Type 3s to put on a mask of sorts, to morph into an image that those they are around will deem as worthy and successful.
Type 4
Enneagram 4s, known as the Individualists, are known for being authentic, unique, and expressive of their emotions and inner world. Type 4s are actively working against the feeling of being flawed and broken, misunderstood, and that they don’t matter or are not good enough or worthy of being happy or fulfilled. They believe that they are missing a fundamental piece that everyone else seems to have, leading to their core weakness of Envy. The core desire of the Type 4 is to be significant, unique, to have meaning and purpose, and to be seen, loved, and accepted for who they authentically are.
Type 5
The Enneagram Type 5s are nicknamed the Investigators. They are analytical, knowledgable, and typically detached and withdrawn people. Type 5s are driven by the core desire to have knowledge and understanding, to be capable, prepared, and competent, and to avoid being overwhelmed by the intrusion and demands of other people, observing from a distance, and gathering knowledge.
Type 6
Enneagram 6s are called the Loyalists. Type 6s are loyal, responsible, and typically community-oriented people who are on high alert from being blindsided by potential dangers; therefore, they can tend to focus on worst-case-scenario thinking, struggling with anxiety and fear. The Type 6s are driven by the core desire for safety, security, guidance, and reassurance.
Type 7
The Enneagram Type 7s are called the Enthusiasts. Type 7s are actively avoiding and running from pain. This causes them to struggle to be in the present moment and appreciate what they have because they are so focused on what could be or what they’re missing out on. They often seek out new experiences because they are driven by the core desire to be happy, fulfilled, content, and satisfied.
Type 8
Enneagram Type 8s are known as the Challengers. They are assertive people who are focused on avoiding being controlled by others, being vulnerable and taken advantage of, or being weak. Type 8s are driven by the desire to be in control and to protect themselves and others in their circle. This leads the Type 8s to be very action-oriented, assertive, and push back when others stand in their way or try to tell them what to do.
Type 9
Enneagram 9s are nicknamed the Peacemakers. With a core fear of loss or separation from others, the Type 9s work to avoid conflict at almost any cost, even to the detriment of themselves by suppressing their own opinions, desires, and needs. The Enneagram 9s are driven by the core desire to have peace and harmony in their internal and external environment, having inner stability and peace of mind, hence the fitting nickname of Peacemaker.
Though most other personality typing systems focus on the behaviors to define each personality type, the core desires are the main determinant of each Enneagram type. Regardless of your behaviors, you are your Enneagram type because of your core desire. Which of these core desires resonate the most with you?
