What’s the difference between the enneagram 5w6 and the 6w5? In this blog, we’re comparing the 5w6, The Problem Solver, with the 6w5, The Defender.
What Is An Enneagram Wing?
We are comparing the 5w6 with the enneagram 6w5 in this blog. While they may sound practically the same, there is a huge difference between the two! Your enneagram wing, which is the second number, determines your behaviors.
Your core desires and core fears are dictated by the number that comes first. This is your core enneagram type
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Whatever your wing is will change how you appear to others. Knowing the difference between the enneagram 5w6 VS the 6w5 can be so impactful because your core desire will be completely different and your path to growth changes.
Recognizing the difference also will help you avoid mistyping!
Enneagram 5w6 vs 6w5 Comparison
Today, we are going to break down the difference between being an enneagram 5w6 versus being a 6w5.
The 5w6 is called The Problem Solver, their wing makes them appear cautious, dedicated, loyal, stable, and orderly personality.
But the 6w5 is called The Defender, they appear rational, fact-oriented, reserved, and quiet like The Investigator in some aspects.
The names of these two enneagram types summarize their personality traits very well. The Problem Solver is focused on attaining knowledge first to solve problems and The Defender is focused on protecting others using a rational mind.
Enneagram Type 5: The Investigator
Enneagram 5’s are logical, cerebral, analytical, and introverted. Their core desire is to have resources and knowledge. This makes these people generally very introverted, spend a lot of time alone, and hoard things for a sense of security.
These people can become confident leaders or, at their worst, indulgent and irresponsible. The type 5 is afraid of being incapable and coming to harm because they didn’t think things through enough.
Enneagram Type 6: The Loyalist
Named The Loyalist, the enneagram 6 is protective, loyal, cautious, and caring. A 6’s core desire is to have security, safety, and loyalty. (Often mistyped as the 8!)
When they move towards their type 3 stress, they become aggressive and controlling. Worrying about their image and how liked they are by their community.
Both the 5 and the 6 are part of the fear triad. Read below to compare the differences between the enneagram 5w6 and the 6w5…
Enneagram 5w6
The most important thing to a 5w6 is that they have future and present stability. These people easily commit to a career path that guarantees future stability.
The Problem Solver (, 5w6) will take on the appearance of The Loyalist. Being the more extroverted of the two 5 wings, the 5w6 is cautious, dedicated, loyal, stable, sociable, realistic, and orderly.
A 5w6 cares more about gaining knowledge and resources that will keep them stable. They reach for this sense of reliability through friends, family, career, home, and basic needs.
Type 5w6s prefer to be around others. If you are a 5w6, make sure you are making time to be with friends you can trust.
In stress, the 5w6 will become indulgent and inactive. They prefer to be in their mind than reality because it feels like their resources are at risk. So they won’t take action and either isolate themselves or overindulge amongst others.
Enneagram 6w5
Known as The Defender and taking on the appearance of The Investigator in many ways, the 6w5 is methodical, rational, fact-oriented, reserved, and quiet.
The 6w5 fulfills their core desire for security by spending time alone and having space. These people can appear “stuck in their ways” but it is just that they like reliability. Once they find what works, why would they change their way of doing things?
6w5s care a lot about their homes. Their home is their safe haven where they are safe and secure. If you are a 6w5, schedule time to be alone and do the things you love.
6w5s need routines and systems in place that keep them in check and provide them with the grounding they desire.
Because the 6w5 is a 6 at their core, they go to aggression and control in stress. When they become burnt out, the 6w5 will try to control the environment to feel safe or they push people away.
This is different from the 6w7, who becomes aggressive and controlling in stress.
Enneagram 5w4 VS 6w7
Because each enneagram type has the ability to tap into both wings, it’s important to take them into account when figuring out if you are a 5w6 or a 6w5.
The Enneagram 6w5 Also Has A 7 Wing
Even if you are an enneagram 6 with a dominant 5 wing, you have the ability to tap into your 7 wing.
Known as The Buddy, your 7 wing makes you social, loud, talkative, and energetic at times.
This wing 7 gives you the desire to have fun and be around other people. Community is really important to you and you want to bring people together in the form of parties, events, and get-togethers. (Of course, you’d also like to be the center of attention as well).
But you are an enneagram 5 with a 6 wing, you don’t have as strong of a desire to socialize.
The Enneagram 5w6 Also Has An 4 Wing
As an enneagram 5 with a dominant 6 wing, you have the ability to tap into your 4 wing.
Your 4 wing, known as The Iconoclast, makes you whimsical, philosophical, and creative. When the 5’s wing 4 comes out, they want to talk theory, possibility, and philosophy all through an analytical lens.
This wing gives you a desire to creatively express yourself and to have your creativity be important to the world. You want to question all the information that comes your way and share it either through writing, speech, or art.
If you are an enneagram 6 with a 5 wing, you don’t have this philosophical and somewhat dark side of you that the 5w6 can tap into.
That’s the difference between the 5w6 and the 6w5! Did this blog help you understand the difference between the enneagram 5w6 versus the 6w5? Leave a comment below!
Download the Enneagram cheatsheets to overcome common mistypes and understand each enneagram simply. Just click here!
Related Blogs:
- Enneagram 5w4 VS 5w6 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
- Enneagram 6w5 VS 6w7 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
- Enneagram 6w7 VS 7w6: Which Are You?
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