Contrary to other personality typing systems that define types based on behaviors or the way the brain is wired, the Ennegram defines each type by its unique set of core motivations. Each Enneagram Type has a core desire, core fear, core weakness, and core longing.
The core weakness is the natural reactions that each type uniquely struggles with. Typically the core weakness is the result of self-worth issue that is triggered and causes them to react in a certain way.
In this post, we’ll cover each of the Enneagram type’s core weaknesses and how they manifest in their lives.
Type 1 Core Weakness: Resentment
A Type 1 is driven by the need to be good, right, correct, moral, and to have integrity. Type 1s will repress their anger and dissatisfaction with themselves and others, presenting as their core weakness of resentment.
For Type 1s, resentment manifests as believing they’re the only ones who are taking things seriously, can do things the correct way, are following the rules or being ethical, and are doing all the work.
Type 2 Core Weakness: Pride
Type 2s are intuitive people who can anticipate others’ needs and are heavily concerned with taking care of others in order to receive love, appreciation, and feel worthy by how they support others. The core weakness of the Type 2 is pride.
For Type 2s, pride manifests as believing that they alone are responsible for taking care of others, supporting/nurturing others, and knowing what’s best.
Type 3 Core Weakness: Deceit
Being concerned with the image of success and the validation they receive from others, Type 3s struggle with the core weakness of deceit.
They put on a mask of sorts to appeal to the people they’re trying to impress in the moment, even if it’s not an authentic expression of themselves.
Type 4 Core Weakness: Envy
For the Type 4s, envy manifests by negatively comparing themselves to others. They believe that they are somehow broken, flawed, and missing an essential piece to find happiness, fulfillment, and the life they desire.
Therefore, Type 4s will unfairly compare their lives with those of others, believing they are lacking some innate quality that everyone else seems to have, even if the sources of their comparisons only show fake or ‘highlight reel’ versions of themselves.
Type 5 Core Weakness: Avarice
Enneagram Type 5s are known for their desire to gather knowledge, to be prepared, and to prevent being overwhelmed by the world and its demands. Type 5s struggle with the core weakness of avarice.
The definition of avarice is ‘extreme greed for wealth or material gain’. But in this instance, avarice is not talking about hoarding money. Rather, for the Type 5s, avarice manifests as the hoarding of their own time, energy, and space.
This can lead Type 5s to be isolated and detached from others, withholding themselves, minimizing their needs, and worrying their energy will be drained to the point of no return.
Type 6 Core Weakness: Anxiety
The core fear of the Type 6s is fear itself. Being a personality type that is motivated by security and safety, it makes sense that they’d be on guard for potential dangers and threats. Therefore, the core weakness of the Type 6 is anxiety, where they are in a constant state of worry or apprehension about these negative potential scenarios.
In an unhealthy state, this can cause Type 6s to be quite fearful and seeking out security and assurance from others rather than trusting and relying on themselves and being able to trust that they’ll be able to navigate obstacles as they arise.
Type 7 Core Weakness: Gluttony
Type 7s are driven by seeking new experiences, and they really struggle with being in the present moment and being satisfied with what is (as opposed to what could be.)
From planning ahead to struggling with committing to anything for the fear of missing out on something better or more interesting, the Type 7’s core weakness is gluttony.
Type 7s in an unhealthier state will struggle with constantly filling their lives with new things, people, and experiences, and never being fully satisfied.
Type 8 Core Weakness: Lust
Type 8s desire to be in control and to avoid being taken advantage of or controlled by other people. This can cause them to be quite intense and assertive, pushing back against others who try to tell them what to do or are taking advantage of others, and forcing their will on others in order to get what they want.
Being one of the types in the Anger/Gut center of intelligence, they can let the excessiveness and intensity/lust consume them if they are in unhealthier states.
Type 9 Core Weakness: Sloth
The core weakness of the Type 9 is sloth. The misconception about sloth is that it means that Type 9s are lazy and unmotivated; however, it’s not about physical laziness.
Although it can seem to manifest as laziness to others, with the drive to have inner and external peace in their environments, Type 9s can actually fall asleep to their own needs and desires for the sake of keeping that peace and not disturbing their underlying anger and going along or merging with others’ agendas.
Do these resonate with your type? If you don’t know your type, you can learn about each of the types and their core motivations here.
