Think that you may have mistyped your enneagram? Read this blog to discover the most common mistypes in the enneagram to find your true type!
What Is The Enneagram?
The enneagram is a personality typing system that consists of nine types. These 9 types are named numbers 1-9. Your enneagram type is dictated by your childhood wound (also known as childhood programming).
This childhood programming has created instilled desires and fear that drive all your actions and give you personality traits.
Your enneagram type gives you insight into…
- what your core desire is
- core fears you struggle with
- your path to growth
- signs you are in stress
- how to take care of yourself
- and more
Enneagram Mistypes
The only problem is, everyone mistypes their enneagram. Because the enneagram is based on our core desire and childhood programming, it can be hard to identify our enneagram because it is subconscious. This leads to enneagram mistypes.
Instead, people identify with the appearance and stereotypes of each enneagram type, therefore leading to mistyping.
Overcoming Enneagram Mistypes
How do we overcome mistyping them? The enneagram is a personality typing system with many layers to it that most are unaware of. Factors like tri-types, triads, stances, wings, stress & growth numbers, affect our enneagram type. Making each one unique and vastly different.
By comparing these factors, we can find our true enneagram type and overcome enneagram mistyping.
Most Common Enneagram Mistypes
So without further ado, here are the most common enneagram mistypes!
Use the list below to jump to a specific mistype
Enneagram 8 & 6 Mistype
The most common mistype I’ve seen is the enneagram 8/6 mistype! I’ve met so many 6s that mistype as 8s!
The main reason for the 8-6 mistype is that 6s are protective and assertive, very similar to the type 8. 6s often see themselves as their bold and brave counterpart, the type 8.
The enneagram 8 desires intensity: everything they do is to seek more of that feeling of challenge and intensity
The enneagram 6 desires loyalty: everything they do is driven by the desire to have security and loyalty
Most importantly, a 6 in stress becomes controlling of others whereas the 8 becomes more hyper independent “I can do it by myself”
Enneagram 9 & 4 Mistype
The main reason for the 4-9 mistype is that 9s are highly creative, much like the type 4 stereotype. Both can appear easygoing, friendly, and occasionally competitive
The enneagram 9 desires harmony: as long as they feel a sense of inner peace and harmony with the world, they are happy
The enneagram 4 desires individuality: as long as they are self-governing and feel understood, they are happy
Most importantly, the 9 feels an extreme LACK of self-knowing whereas the 4 feels fully aware of who they are.
Enneagram 5 & 9 Mistype
When I first got into the enneagram, I was convinced I was a 5! This can’t be further from my true nature. however, This is a very common mistype. 9s often view themselves as their cerebral counterpart.
And there are a lot of similarities between these 2. Both see all sides of a situation, both are often sarcastic, and both struggle with decisiveness and action. So what’s the main difference?
The enneagram 9 desires harmony: as long as they feel a sense of inner peace and harmony with the world, they are happy
The enneagram 5 desires knowledge and capability: as long as they have their resources, they are happy
The 9 will struggle with knowing who they are, feeling like a shapeshifter whereas the 5 feels aware of who they are and chooses to keep it as an impartial factor.
One other potential factor is that 5s love facts, knowledge, and research. They want to know things. 9 are capable of research but would much rather wing it in the end.
Enneagram 7 & 4 Mistype
You guys have no idea how many 4s I’ve met that, firstly, think they have NO enneagram type, and then secondly, all say that they are 7s!
Often times 4s appear to be more of the life of the party than 7s because they have a drive to be important to the group. This makes them take center stage at times.
Behaviors of these two types are VERY similar. This is why it comes back to core desire.
While, at times they want to have fun, the 4s core desire is to feel like they have a place in the world, to be understood, to be unique, to matter, to leave a mark.
Whereas the 7, their core desire is truly just to chase the fun and feel positive. They might momentarily get caught up in the idea of greatness but then fall back to the fact that they just want to enjoy life to the fullest.
7s don’t think about how they are expressing their image or their emotions, but 4s do.
4s are aware of their negative or heavy emotions and struggle with liberating themselves from them. The 7 struggles to feel and be aware of any negative emotion in the first place!
Often times too, the 4 tends to have more childhood wounds associated with not fitting in whereas the 7 doesn’t as much.
Enneagram 1 & 6 Mistype
The enneagram 1 and 6 are very similar. Both are very moral, controlling, and protective people.
The enneagram 1 desires rightness: everything they do is driven by the desire for things to be morally right and perfect
The enneagram 6 desires loyalty: everything they do is driven by the desire to have security and loyalty
As part of the fear triad, enneagram 6 struggles deep down with fear at their core. Specifically the fear of being harmed and betrayed.
Whereas the enneagram 1, as part of the anger triad, struggles with anger. Specifically, resentment because they feel they are the only ones upholding rightness and perfection in the world.
Other Enneagram Mistypes
Enneagram 8 & 1 Mistype
It’s not very common for these two enneagram types to test themselves as each other but when it comes to understanding each type, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
The enneagram 8 desires intensity: everything they do is to seek more of that feeling of challenge and intensity
The enneagram 1 desires rightness: everything they do is driven by the desire for things to be morally right and perfect
Most importantly, a 1 wants to have a set of rules and systems put in place, the 8 doesn’t care for the system, they just want whatever seems most rational and efficient.
Enneagram 3 & 1 Mistype
The 3 and the 1 seem very similar… 3s are perfectionists, in work, with themselves, and in their image. The 1 can think of themselves as an achiever in a sense, they want to achieve moral rightness, and perfection, and have justice served
The 3 wants to achieve, win, and be the best because they believe that’s the only way they can receive love.
The type 1 wants perfection, for rightness and order to be upheld because they believe they have to keep everything right to be loved.
These 2 enneagram types also struggle with slightly different feelings. The 3 struggles more with feelings of unworthiness and the one struggles with resentment.
Enneagram 5 & 8 Mistype
What’s the difference between the enneagram 5 and the 8? It can oftentimes be hard to tell apart, mainly because a 5 in health becomes like the 8 and an 8 in stress becomes like a 5!
Both these types are logical, blunt, and “don’t do feelings” The main difference to look for is the core desire
The 5’s core desire is resources! They get this not only through knowledge and research but through alone time. The 5 will seek out having their own space for than the 8.
The 8’s core desires intensity! They will risk losing their resources to achieve this desire of challenge before the 5 will.
The 5 will also remain neutral about something more than the 8. While the 8 can easily get fired up and opinionated, the 5 sticks with stating the facts.
And finally, the 5 is in the fear triad. As part of the fear triad, 5s struggle to take action at times of stress. The 8 is in the anger triad, they struggle with explosive anger and aggression.
Enneagram 9 & 2 Mistype
The 2 is highly empathic. They feel everyone’s emotions all the time. The 9 is kind and friendly but they don’t feel everyone’s emotions in the room unless they sense conflict.
The biggest key difference I see between these two types comes down to the triads…
The type 2 as part of the worthiness triad, struggles with feeling unworthy. They can sense who the authentic self is below the surface but are afraid it’ll be rejected.
The type 9 on the other hand, in the anger triad, struggles with knowing who they are at all. They feel like they can morph to be anything people want them to be.
In the end, the type 2 needs to focus on cultivating their creative self-expression and embracing their individuality.
The 9 needs to focus on recognizing and fulfilling their needs and desires so that they can discover who they are.
Enneagram 3 & 8 Mistype
I get confused by people mistyping this one because the 3 and the 8 are so different! Sure, both are driven and ambitious but…
The 3 is in the shame triad As part of the shame triad, they struggle with feeling inherently unworthy. The 8 is in the anger triad. They struggle with strong aggression that can rub people the wrong way.
The 3 often struggles because they care what other people think of them. The 8 has an “IDGAF” attitude. Their growth paths are very similar, both in the end, must learn vulnerability and authenticity
Enneagram 2 & 6 Mistype
While both of these enneagram types are caring, kind, and protective, the 6 is focused on preserving their security.
This makes the 6 more aggressive and assertive at times (which is why they often mistype as an 8).
The 2 struggles with being assertive because of their strong empathy. They want to be kind to everyone.
The 6 is part of the fear triad, they fear losing their basic security more than the 2. And the 2 is part of the shame triad, they are more focused on feeling worthy.
Enneagram 9 & 6 Mistype
Interestingly enough, the 6 becomes like a 9 in growth and the 9 becomes like a 6 in stress This is probably the main source of this mistype
Another big difference between the 9 and 6 is the 9 goes to numbing behaviors in stress whereas the 6 goes to over-achieving behaviors.
The enneagram 9 desires harmony: as long as they feel a sense of inner peace and harmony with the world, they are happy
The enneagram 6 desires loyalty: everything they do is driven by the desire to have security and loyalty
Enneagram 7 & 8 Mistype
The wings play a huge role here… A 7w8 can believe themselves to be an 8 because they come across as argumentative, aggressive, bold, and maybe even blunt. The 8w7 can believe they are a 7 because they seem to love to have fun, adventure, and be social
But in the end, the core desire is very different.
The 7 desires positivity. And as part of the fear triad, they shy away from their negative emotions out of fear of feeling them.
The 8 desires intensity. And as part of the anger triad, they can be explosive and aggressive in expressing their negative emotions.
You’ll also notice a 7 tries to bring positivity and fun to any room they enter, whereas the 8 has an “idgaf attitude”
Enneagram 3 & 5 Mistype
This is a very common enneagram mistype in men!
The 3’s core desire is achievement! They fulfill this through sports, work, social status, and self development.
The 5’s core desire is resources! They fulfill this through knowledge, physical security, stable job, and alone time.
The 3 is in the shame triad As part of the shame triad, they struggle with feeling inherently unworthy. This makes them attach to status and achievements so they feel like they’re enough.
The 5 is in the fear triad. As part of the fear triad, 5s struggle with feeling like they are never capable or competent enough to survive. This makes them struggle to take action and go after what they want.
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