CHAT: the enneagram

And Rosta <a-rosta@...> wrote:

>Mike S.
>>
>> But yes, INTP's are overrepresented here for sure.  BTW,
>> the enneagram is interesting too.   Check out the description
>> for type Five.  http://www.enneagraminstitute.com
>>
>> If you get the gist of Riso's "wing" theory, then you'll know
>> what I mean when I say I am a Five with a Four-wing which acts
>> up now and then.
>
>Do you base this on reading the descriptions and matching yourself
>to them, or on doing the online test?
Besides these two methods, an enneagram typing can be gotten
from someone who both knows the enneagram and knows you well
enough, or knows what questions to ask.  It is usually not
that difficult to type people once you understand the system.
Still, I think a combination of at least two of these methods
is to be recommended rather than relying on one.

As for myself, I initially typed myself by reading the
descriptions, but have since confirmed this using the other
two methods.  It can be an uncanny experience.  When you read
some of the type descriptions, you will recognize a few of
your friends and family, with some of their deep motivations
brought to light.  When you will read on your own type, you
find yourself wondering how someone could so accurately
describe aspects of your personal inner landscape, though
not perfectly of course.

I recommend Riso's _Personality Types_ if you are interested
in studying the system a bit more.  The only disagreement
I have with that book is the author's one-to-one correlations
between the enneagram types and the Jungian types, which
I flatly reject.  Other than that, it's a superb book.

>[I shall desist from reporting on myself enneagrammatically,
>because although I quite like these threads where we tell each
>other about our personality types, others find them insufferable.]
Well in view of the fact that about a dozen other folks have
announced their types with no apparent ill effects, perhaps
you will reconsider :-)

Regards,

---   Mike

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