Enneagram Personality Disorders

The Enneagram of personality has a unique way of categorizing nine personality types that connect one another. Still, it becomes impossible to measure the human psyche through these categories. There is also difficulty in understanding enneagram personality disorders. Most people agree that modern teachings are extracted from the work of Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo.

Claudio Naranjo learned about the enneagrams of Oscar Ichazo when he attended a training session with others from the United States in Arica, Chile. It was back in the year 1970. Ichazo had presented the enneagrams, which were a small part of the whole material.

Later, Naranjo expanded the concepts of Ichazo’s enneagrams or the ego types as the five associated enneagrams. They are collectively referred to from his background in psychology and other understandings.

Read on to know more –

The Chilean Psychiatrist, Claudio Naranjo managed to relate the ego personality types of Oscar Ichazo to the personality disorders of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which is used by psychologists.

It does not mean that all the Enneagram personality types are disorders in themselves. Still, the conditions represent those areas where a particular type may go when their psychological health is not ideal.

When one maps the enneagram personality types to the DSM, it also offers a way through which one can build a correlation of the psychological traits with those types. It helps to develop a clue between modern psychology and the Enneagram personality types.

One must consider the following things concerning the correlations between Enneagram Types and Personality Disorders –

Claudio Naranjo was not always consistent with the enneagram type he must associate with the personality disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is not static. It has been upgraded now and then over the years. Hence, personality disorders have also changed over time.
Several other teachers and authors of Enneagram personality types may give different interpretations of the correlations between the DSM and enneagram personality types than those given by Naranjo.

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Enneagram Personality Types and Their Disorders

We know there are a total of 9 enneagram personality types and each type has unique traits that help them lead their lives well. Despite all these, they also possess certain disorders. They do not let them behave in the desired manner.

Let us now discuss each enneagram type in brief and see their corresponding disorders to understand this concept better –

1. Enneagram 1 – The Perfectionist

An enneagram 1 personality type individual is a perfectionist. They lead their life according to principles. Type Ones measure their actions and have some purpose behind them.

These people are fair and truthful. They are extremely meticulous in carrying out their duties. Enneagram 1s keep their expectation levels high.

Personality Disorder – Obsessive Compulsive

Enneagram Type Ones suffer from an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Due to this reason, despite being ethical, these people can be very critical.
People can live with a misperception regarding these individuals. They feel that enneagram 1s always desire to keep everything under their control.
They have a strong desire to make necessary improvements while leading their life. It enables them to attain perfection.
It is one of the personality disorders which makes an Enneagram 1 suffer from the fear of being wrong.
They even start displaying their anger even under unusual circumstances.
It is also possible for these people to become demanding.
These people resort to domination. They can look down upon others.
They face problems in tolerating uncertain scenarios of life.
Type Ones wish to have everything in a systematic manner.
They might even have aggressive thoughts about lack of control. It makes them feel as if they might cause harm to themselves or others.
Unnecessary thoughts might frequently arise in the minds of these people. They include the ones related to aggression and religious or sexual subjects.

2. Enneagram 2 – The Helper

An individual with an enneagram 2 personality type is a thoughtful and generous person. There is always an urge among them to please others. They can serve people’s needs by going beyond just showing empathy.

These individuals love to offer their help or cater to others. They perfectly embody the idea of caring for people selflessly.

Personality Disorder – Dependent

Enneagram 2 personality types suffer from the dependent disorder.
They always feel that people need them in their lives. Hence, it will help them to avoid feeling worthless.
These people show resentment toward others when they neglect their requirements.
Twos make use of seduction to solve any issue or fulfill some of their needs in life.
They show their assertiveness. It enables them to lead and influence others in social settings.
Twos exhibit their nurturance. They even falsely portray themselves as if they have everything in abundance.
Enneagram Two personality type individuals suffer from a histrionic personality disorder. In this situation, they depend on others to get approval for their self-esteem.
This dependent disorder in an Enneagram 2 personality type individual also states that people can easily influence them. They can make them do whatever stuff they want in their way.

3. Enneagram 3 – The Achiever

An Enneagram Type 3 person is someone who tends to be conscious of their image. They are highly capable of adapting themselves to various situations. Threes have the urge for achieving the impossible.

These people put in hard work. Even then, they can maintain a calm demeanor to fulfill their responsibilities. They often come across stern challenges ahead of time. Types 3 personalities always follow their need to avoid being termed unsuccessful.

Personality Disorder – Narcissistic

Narcissistic personality disorder makes these people self-centered. They only bother about themselves, how to fulfill their needs, and several other obligations.
Arrogance sets into their thinking and behavioral patterns. These negative aspects make people distance themselves from Type 3s.
This personality disorder enables them to search for a high level of admiration from others. Otherwise, their motivation level goes down.
People regard them as manipulative. It is because Type 3s can often make others act in just the way they want to fulfill their purpose.
The selfish nature of these individuals becomes quite evident due to this personality disorder. They never do anything for others’ welfare but only think of serving their needs.
These individuals are extremely patronizing. They look helpful, but the reality is something different. Threes suffer from a superiority complex.
The narcissistic personality disorder among type 3s also makes them seem quite demanding. They always want to meet some kind of obligation by making others do the needful.
They even show their arrogance from time to time. It makes them unable to treat others with respect.
The narcissistic attitude of enneagram 3 individuals makes others stay away from them as much as possible. Hence, they spend most of their time in isolation.

4. Enneagram 4 – The Individualist

An Enneagram 4 personality type individual is someone who loves to express their feelings. They can become temperamental if people fail to keep them in check. Fours are romantic and idealistic to some extent.

These things come to light when they must express themselves artistically or creatively. They enjoy leading a balanced lifestyle. Fours always intend to show themselves as accomplished individuals in front of others to avoid people from calling them ordinary.

Personality Disorder – Borderline

When an Enneagram 4 person suffers from a borderline personality disorder, it has a severe impact on their pattern of thinking.
There is an adverse effect on how they feel about themselves and others.
They encounter major problems in their day-to-day functioning.
Face difficulty in tackling their behaviors and emotions.
Borderline is one of the personality disorders that makes an Enneagram 4 suffer from the fear of instability or abandonment. Hence, a person might have problems dealing with the challenges of staying alone.
Anger at an inappropriate time, regular mood swings, and impulsiveness are the three negative traits that crop up because of borderline disorder. They can easily push others away from the lives of Enneagram 4.
Fours can resort to unhealthy practices in their lives. They include, gambling, unsafe sex, rash driving, binge eating, or might even go on a spending spree.
These people can feel empty with nothing to look forward to in life.
Fours can often lose their temper and give sarcastic comments against others.
They might even go through rapid changes in their goals. Hence, these individuals alter their outlook on their whole identity.

5. Enneagram 5 – The Investigator

Someone who has an enneagram 5 personality type, they carry a deep sense of perception. They can lead their life in secrecy. Fives could even isolate themselves from others because of their need to become self-sufficient.

These people have the great ability to process critical information quickly. They are good at offering independent opinions along with solutions.

Personality Disorder – Antisocial

Type 5s have this mental condition in which they tend to manipulate others for their benefit. It always raises suspicion in the minds of other individuals.
They violate the rights of people without feeling guilty at any point of time in their life.
These people behave irresponsibly. They do not show any respect toward normal behavior in social settings.
Fives face difficulties in sustaining relationships for a long period. They have problems making compromises and adjustments.
Antisocial personality disorder of enneagram five individuals makes them incapable of handling their anger. It becomes easy for them to lose their temper over minute problems.
They do not feel guilty. Hence, they fail to learn from their mistakes.
This personality disorder within Type Five makes them blame others for problems in their lives. Hence, they do not take responsibility for their actions.
These individuals repeatedly break law and order. Therefore, they look forward to leading their lives with complete freedom.

6. Enneagram 6 – The Loyalist

An Enneagram 6 personality type individual is responsible and hard-working. Sixes always engage in different kinds of activities while leading their lives. They gain motivation from fear.

There is also the requirement for attaining security in life. These people give great value to loyalty and friendship. Even then, they have the habit of thinking about worst-case scenarios. They love to prepare themselves for the worst. Type 6 can suffer from anxiety if they get caught up in precarious situations.

Personality Disorder – Paranoid

Enneagram 6s suffer from a paranoid personality disorder which does not let them trust others easily. They always remain suspicious of others’ intent even without any valid reason.
There is an unjustified belief among these individuals that people are trying to harm them. They even feel that others are trying to deceive them in some way. Hence, they look to stay away from them as much as possible.
These people always hesitate to confide in other individuals. It is because they live with the unreasonable fear that they will use the information against them.
Sixes even start taking harmless situations or normal remarks as personal attacks. They struggle to take things sportingly. Hence, it does not take long for them to face additional problems in their lives.
They do not shy away from reacting in a hostile manner to specific statements. The statements are those that these people perceive as insults or slights.
People with enneagram 6 types suffering from paranoid personality disorder tend to hold on to grudges. They cannot leave them aside and move on with life.
Enneagram 6 having paranoid personality disorder goes through recurrent suspicion that their spouse is unfaithful. These people often doubt them for things they have not even done.

7. Enneagram 7 – The Enthusiast

Enneagram 7 personality types are positive and fun-loving people. They act with spontaneity. Type 7 receives motivation from their need to become happy in life. These individuals never wish to get bogged down.

There is always an urge to keep their energy levels high. Sevens hate to feel any sort of discomfort. Hence, they do everything possible to keep themselves busy. It allows them to have a good time.

Personality Disorder – Histrionic

Enneagram 7s suffering from histrionic personality disorder always want to seek others’ attention. Hence, it allows them to stay in the limelight.
They are dramatic about expressing strong opinions. People can influence them quite easily.
These people go through periods of rapidly changing emotions and feelings. Thus, they fail to stick to their plans.
Sevens tend to behave provocatively. They can easily make others do things they do not want.
Enneagram 7s with these personality disorders can make good use of their appearance. They can help draw people’s attention toward them.
They resort to giving away vague speeches now and then. People find it difficult to decipher the real meanings behind those statements.
Histrionic personality disorder in an enneagram seven also makes them suffer from another major problem. They consider relationships as much more intimate than they are.
These people tend to show persistent charm. They use the same to flirt with people of the opposite sex.
An individual with a histrionic personality disorder has a larger-than-life presence.
These people require instant gratification. Otherwise, they can easily suffer from boredom.

8. Enneagram 8 – The Challenger

People with enneagram 8 personality types are those who get motivation from their need to exercise power. They want to have control over every individual around them. Eights never want to make themselves look vulnerable. These individuals act as protectors. They are fully aware of their wants.

Personality Disorder – Passive-Aggressive

Enneagram 8s suffer from a passive-aggressive personality disorder. It is also known as a negative personality disorder.
They tend to resist completing any social task passively.
These people often have the habit of complaining about petty issues.
All individuals with this disorder always feel a lack of appreciation from others. They feel like people do not recognize their efforts.
They resort to frequent arguments with their friends, colleagues, or companions.
There is a great amount of bitterness toward authoritative positions.
Eights start showing resentment whenever they see others’ success.
These people become excessively vocal and complain about their misfortunes in life.
They struggle to make the right decisions at the right time.
Their confidence level is always on the lower side.
Passive-aggressive personality disorder among enneagram 8s does not let them see things with optimism. They always expect bad things to occur in their lives.

9. Enneagram 9 – The Peacemaker

Enneagram 9s are those who give great value to comfort, harmony, and peace in their lives. They make sure to avoid conflict and sustain peace at any cost. These people have the habit of going with the flow. They let others take complete control of life’s proceedings. Nines do so to make people attain happiness.

Personality Disorder – Avoidant

The avoidant personality disorder of enneagram 9 makes them extremely shy individuals.
They suffer from nervousness. Hence, nines hesitate to take up any job that is not to their liking. It does not make them adjust to unknown circumstances. Still, they become comfortable over time.
These people are over-sensitive. They can get easily hurt by disapproval or criticism.
They have few close friends. There is a tendency to show reluctance toward involving themselves with others. The mindset changes if they are certain that people will like them.
Eights suffering from this personality disorder experience intense fear and anxiety in relationships and social settings. Hence, they avoid those jobs or activities that make them deal with others.
These individuals are shy, feel a different kind of awkwardness, and become conscious of themselves in social situations. All these things occur because of the fear of doing something that causes embarrassment.
There is always a habit among them to exaggerate potential problems.
Eights with avoidant personality disorder seldom make any attempt at something new.

Final Words

We have discussed the enneagram personality disorders of nine types. It gives an overview of each personality type. Then, it talks of the symptoms that crop up whenever they start suffering from their disorders.

The disorders are as follows – Type 1 suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, Type 2 has a dependent disorder, Type 3 has a narcissistic disorder, Type 4 has a borderline disorder, Type 5 has an anti-social disorder, Type 6 has a paranoid disorder, Type 7 has a histrionic disorder, Type 8 has a passive-aggressive disorder and Type 9 has an avoidant disorder.

The characteristics or symptoms of disorders help all these individuals get clarity regarding their weak links. They allow them to pay extra attention to making drastic improvements in their personalities. Hence, the overall personalities of people with nine enneagram types become better.