Posted by Aislinn on June 30, 1998 at 20:23:46:
In Reply to: Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? posted by Dave on June 29, 1998 at 18:04:48:
Just a side comment from me, a 4w5. When I first took the RHETI I tested as a 7 (with high on both 4 and 5, but definite a 7). After I had studied the enneagram for some months I realised why I was acting like a 7 - and I now know I am not a 7 at all but a 4w5 struggeling with my defense mechanisms (disintegrating to 7, for example).
That does not mean I have CHANGED personality, but I have leanred a lot more about myself and why I do what I do, and I have no doubt that I am a 4w5. When I do the test now, the 7 comes out a LOT lower, as I have started to learn not to act out in my wing's point of disintegration as much as I did before.
I think it would be difficult for most people to answer the test a 100% honestly (or accurately) the first time, especially if one doesn't really know oneself as good as one thinks.
-Aislinn