Inspired by a chat with Erik (St4r.nl), I took some time to take the Free Enneagram Test: The rheti Sampler. Here are some results, and comments on them.
| Type | Level |
|---|---|
| Type 1 | ?????? |
| Type 2 | ??????????????? |
| Type 3 | ?????????????????? |
| Type 4 | ???????????? |
| Type 5 | ??????????????? |
| Type 6 | ????????? |
| Type 7 | ??????????????? |
| Type 8 | ?????? |
| Type 9 | ???????????? |
Based entirely on the highest score (six), my basic personality type is Three: The Achiever. Here is a brief description of said personality type:
The adaptable, success-oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be�role models who inspire others.
I can live with that. Upon further inspection, it appears that I have the highest of the average (non-unhealthy) levels, on which the following information is provided:
Level 6: Want to impress others with their superiority: constantly promoting themselves, making themselves sound better than they really are. Narcissistic, with grandiose, inflated notions about themselves and their talents. Exhibitionistic and seductive, as if saying "Look at me!" Arrogance and contempt for others is a defense against feeling jealous of others and their success.
Heh, er� ouch; that one caught me off-guard. Seeking a way out � but not wanting to cheat myself to the extent of re-doing the test � I decided to read up on Interpreting Your Enneagram Test Results (maybe I just didn�t get it?), from which I learned the following:
For most people, it�s clear what your basic type is. If your highest score is much higher (3-4 points or more) than the rest of your scores, this is most likely your basic personality type.
Ah! Well, I have no less than three types (2, 5, and 7) in which I only scored one point short of my highest, and another two types in which I fall two short. I guess my basic personality type is mostly unclear.
Right.
Upon further reading, I learned that this is, in fact, very type three-like
:
A Three, for example, may test almost equally high or higher in another type because he or she invests a great deal in projecting a particular image, especially in his or her career. Threes who want to see themselves as entrepreneurs may test high in Eight, or as intellectuals may test high in Five, or as artists may test high in Four.
Ah. Fair enough. By the way, how about scoring high in five and four (�and seven)? Wait, don�t even answer that.
Sigh.
For the sake of completeness, here are the respective descriptions of the specific level I fall in for each of the other eight types. I won�t comment on them individually, but I�ll say this much about their entirety: some points are funny, some points are painfull, and most points are true, or at least make a lot of sense.
Level 2: Conscientious with strong personal convictions: they have an intense sense of right and wrong, personal religious and moral values. Wish to be rational, reasonable, self-disciplined, mature, moderate in all things.
Level 5: Become overly intimate and intrusive: they need to be needed, so they hover, meddle, and control in the name of love. Want others to depend on them: give, but expect a return: send double messages. Enveloping and possessive: the codependent, self-sacrificial person who cannot do enough for others�wearing themselves out for everyone, creating needs for themselves to fulfill.
Level 4: Take an artistic, romantic orientation to life, creating a beautiful, aesthetic environment to cultivate and prolong personal feelings. Heighten reality through fantasy, passionate feelings, and the imagination.
Level 5: Increasingly detached as they become involved with complicated ideas or imaginary worlds. Become preoccupied with their visions and interpretations rather than reality. Are fascinated by off-beat, esoteric subjects, even those involving dark and disturbing elements. Detached from the practical world, a "disembodied mind," although high-strung and intense.
Level 3: Dedicated to individuals and movements in which they deeply believe. Community builders: responsible, reliable, trustworthy. Hard-working and persevering, sacrificing for others, they create stability and security in their world, bringing a cooperative spirit.
Level 5: Unable to discriminate what they really need, become hyperactive, unable to say "no" to themselves, throwing self into constant activity. Uninhibited, doing and saying whatever comes to mind: storytelling, flamboyant exaggerations, witty wise-cracking, performing. Fear being bored: in perpetual motion, but do too many things�many ideas but little follow through.
Level 2: Self-assertive, self-confident, and strong: have learned to stand up for what they need and want. A resourceful, "can do" attitude and passionate inner drive.
Level 4: Fear conflicts, so become self-effacing and accommodating, idealizing others and "going along" with their wishes, saying "yes" to things they do not really want to do. Fall into conventional roles and expectations. Use philosophies and stock sayings to deflect others.
Please note there�s a lot of irony/sarcasm in my sometimes depressive tone of writing: I actually had a lot of fun doing this test and comparing results with other people. It�s definitely worth a try.
Oh, the title of this article? Like Mike is a movie title that refers to my favorite basketball player of all time; Michael Jordan, who � according to the site � is a Three
too (and I somehow expected to see his name there).