Re: first 5 then 8?

Posted by presentbeing on August 21, 2000 at 21:56:40:

In Reply to: Re: first 5 then 8? posted by Jesse on August 21, 2000 at 15:35:21:

: : 7 years ago as a student I did an enneagram test and found out I was a 5, a type that almost entirely explained a lot of what I until then saw as unexplainable controversies in my personality.
: : I was not a studious type, so I always classified myself as 5 with 4wing being interested in icons, art and artistic expression as well, liking to be alone at times.

: : now, having worked as a human rights activist for a few years I recently did a few test again and came out: an 8.
: : Now I must admit that being dependent is one of my big fears. I guess I have developed through working... ??

: : alicante

: I'm curious, how old were you when you took the test 7 years ago? A friend of mine recently observed, through his younger siblings, that certain types take longer to manifest themselves. Though both he and myself were very clearly a 4w5 and 5w4, respectively, as early as age 10, his now 3w2 sister and my 4w3 brother did not begin to act out the tendencies of their Enneatypes until about 15 or 16. Before then, they exhibited mixed tendencies of all the types( though admittedly favored tendencies of types similar to their final one. My 4w5 brother at times acted like a five, sometimes like a nine or a two, but never like an 8, 7 or 1.)

:
: Barring this perhaps hare-brained theory of mine, it could perhaps be an ascension of the 8, which goes from mimicking the 5 to mimicking the 2 when it becomes healthy according to Riso. Human rights is very 2ish thing to be involved in, and a very 8ish one, what with their compulsion to protect the innocent from an unjust world(if I've read correctly). I've not met many 5s, even healthy ones, who involve themselves in such activities.

: Hope that helps.

Hi. I'm a 5w6, jumping in to offer my 2 cents worth. Seems to me that our circumstances bring out different parts of our personality whatever type we may be. I am often seen as an 8-ish person in the business setting. While I'd LIKE to think I'm integrating to 8, the truth is that my profession often calls for me to act tough and like a leader. Since I do have that potential in my integrating side, it naturally comes out. Left to my own devices, I'd prefer a good solitary book, but that doesn't pay the bills, does it 5's? So, I save it for my own time and do what's expected at work.

Come to think of it, 6's can also be pretty forceful when they're on their own turf, so my wing may have contributed. Then, too, my very forceful mom was a 3, and she rewarded forceful behavior on my part. It probably became an important part of my 5 'camoflage' to hide out in that guise.

In short, I suggest we take care not to focus make it too simple. If we do, we run the risk of failing to tap the great richness of the enneagram AND the many facets of our lives that contribute to personality. So, alicante, have a good time with your new-found forcefulness, and don't forget introspection is the tool that must go with the testing to make it work right.

Best wishes,
presentbeing

Follow Ups:

• Re: first 5 then 8? Laurence 04:45:49 08/22/00 (1)
  • The learning circle alicante 16:14:59 08/25/00 (0)

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