Discover everything you should know about the Enneagram 5 personality type, also known as The Investigator or The Observer by reading this blog!
What Does It Mean To Be An Enneagram 5?
Being an enneagram 5 means you were raised to believe you had to be knowledgeable and logical for survival. You struggle the most to take imperfect action and feel your emotions. Your core desire leads you to hoard resources, hoard your time, and isolate yourself from people.
If you are an enneagram five, you are known as The Investigator. You are logical, reserved, and cerebral. As a 5, your core desire is to have resources because, in childhood, you were taught that you have to have knowledge and resources to be safe from harm.
Enneagram 5 Description
The enneagram type five is known as The Investigator. The 5 is characterized by their logical, analytical, and reserved nature. If you are a 5, your core desire is to have resources because, in childhood, you were taught that you have to have knowledge and resources to be safe from harm.
Traits of an Enneagram 5
5s are quiet observers of reality. Not the social butterfly type to talk to everyone they meet. The 5 is characterized by their reserved and logical nature. They see everything as a set of facts or systems.
Their core desire makes them naturally reserved and they love to intake knowledge. A 5 would much rather spend the day at home doing what they love than go out and socialize.
5s systemize everything. Which may be surprising to those who enter their homes due to the fact that they love to spread their things out. But 5s seem to have a list or system for everything, including people!
Lots of 5’s feel like they are aliens or robots who missed a course in “how to be human.”
Enneagram 5 In Stress
A stressed enneagram 5 is impulsive and irresponsible. Taking on the negative traits of the Enneagram 7, the stressed 5 becomes indulgent and avoids responsibilities to maintain their resources.
Each enneagram type has specific signs that they are under stress! They take on the negative traits of a different number in stress.
The systematic and logical type 5 becomes impulsive, indulgent, irresponsible, and selfish with their time.
5s can struggle to take action since they want to be capable at all times. This is heightened when they move to their 7 stress number.
The 5 in stress are afraid of losing their resources and focusing on enjoying life (which isn’t always partying to them) and avoiding responsibilities.
Read our blog on the 5 in stress and growth.
Enneagram 5 In Growth
The Enneagram 5 in growth incorporates assertion, action, and confidence in their being. They take on the healthy traits of the Enneagram 8 by pushing themselves to be their best and put themselves out in the world without fear of losing their resources.
Each enneagram type has specific signs that they are in a healthy state of growth! They take on the positive traits of a different number in growth.
When the Enneagram 5 embraces their growth, they learn to be fearless and bold. Taking on the healthy traits of The Challenger, they do what they know they should do.
The type 5 also learns to be more confident in their abilities, harnessing them to become leaders or assert themselves in social settings in a way they enjoy.
Get my top self-care tips for the Enneagram 5!
Enneagram 5 Common Mistypes
Some of the Enneagram types are very similar to one another. This is why it’s important to take your time and learn about each type before you type yourself!
5s can commonly see themselves as 3s (especially males) because both have the desire to be competent.
The 5 can also mistype as the enneagram 1 because the traits are so similar. Both are reserved, logical, and analytical. The main difference i that the 1 is more moral while the 5 is more factual.
Some 5s can even see themselves as the Enneagram 2!
Find out more about the Enneagram 5’s common mistypes in this blog
Try Our Enneagram Quiz
Enneagram 5 Subtypes
In the enneagram, there are three variations of each type called Instinctual Subtypes.
These 3 subtypes are determined by the 3 major survival instincts we operate on.
The SX Enneagram 5 (Sexual 5)
The SX type 5 is the most emotional and reserved of the subtypes. While, usually, the SX subtype will make people more aggressive or assertive, the Sx subtype makes the 5 more reserved. They seek out a perfect romantic partner who understands and respects them in every way. However, their seeking process can appear to be lacking. The SX subtype makes the 5 happy in their own little world where they romanticize their life.
The SP Enneagram 5 (Self-Preserving 5)
SP 5s is the most reserved of all the 5s. They seek to maintain their space and resources more than the other two subtypes. This subtype makes the SP 5 very easily happy on their own. It may even frustrate people how much alone time these people need. This subtype is referred to as “The Castle Defender” because they want to maintain their sacred space at all times and very few are let in.
The SO Enneagram 5 (Social 5)
The SO 5 seeks social groups that value their knowledge. They want to be a part of a group of intellectuals who mentally stimulate them. Oftentimes, the SO 5 can assert themselves as scholars so to say. They can commonly be found as teachers, sharing their knowledge with groups.
What An Enneagram 5 Needs To Hear
Dear enneagram 5s, we are sorry that we made you feel like you would never be capable enough. The world isn’t as dangerous as we taught you it was. Have courage, take the leap, and we promise you, you’ll be surprised by what the world sends your way.
Enneagram 5 Romantic Compatibility
The Enneagram 5 will get along the most with enneagram 4s, 1s, and 3s. 4s can help 5s express emotion while still being analytical. 1s and 5s are both logical and orderly. And the 5 and 3 have similar needs and can feel comfortable with each other emotionally.
The enneagram type 5 will be drawn towards other types that respect their needs for alone time and resources.
Commonly, the enneagram 5 will seek out type 4s who are creative (like their own 4 wing) and also have the ability to be analytical.
However, 5s can commonly end up with 3’s because they have a similar approach to expressing those wishy-washy annoying things called “emotions.”
And finally, 5s can enjoy the company of 1s who are also orderly and logical like them.
Find out more about the Enneagram 5 Compatibility (coming soon)
Best Careers For An Enneagram 5
Because the Enneagram 5’s core desire is to have knowledge, the type 5 can do well in any career that requires an analytical brain. And if they embrace their 8 growth, they can do well in leadership roles.
Potentially fulfilling careers for the 5 would be…
- Bookkeeper
- Analyst
- Accountant
- Computer Programmer
- Coding
- Firefighter
- Project Manager
- Writer
The Enneagram 5 does best using their skills in analysis in a career. They make great Analysts, Bookkeepers, Accountants, and Writers. Any job where they can do detailed work, harness their capabilities and work fairly in solitude suits them well.
What questions do you still have about the Enneagram 5? Let me know in the comments below!
Related Blogs
- Enneagram 5 In Stress & Growth
- The Nine Enneagram Types: Which Type Are You?
- Most Common Enneagram Mistypes
- Enneagram 5w4 VS 5w6 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
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