The Enneagram and Psychiatry
We were so excited to see this amazing write up in the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents Journal about the Enneagram, by Morgan Alexander and Brent Schnipke, MD - so we had to share it with you!
Abstract
The Enneagram is a personality theory describing nine strategies by which the psyche develops a worldview and relates to self and others. Each of the nine "types" has a basic fear, basic desire, and predictable behavior pattern in times of stress and security—all of which shape motivations underlying behavior.
The Enneagram has been used by psychiatrists since the 1970s. The authors summarize the Enneagram theory, review the history and literature validating its use, and suggest areas for application in psychiatry, including diagnosis and psychotherapy. As the Enneagram becomes increasingly popular, clinicians will benefit from knowledge about the system.
In the past century, psychiatrists and psychologists have utilized many systems for describing personality characteristics and styles. These have varied widely in their basis, acceptance, and application.
The Enneagram is one model for describing personality with deep significance and precedent in clinical psychiatry, and its popularity and use have grown in recent years. Because of its growing use in popular culture, psychiatry residents should be aware of the system.
This article summarizes the Enneagram theory of personality, reviews the history and scientific literature validating its use, and suggests potential areas for application, including use in diagnosis and psychotherapy.
What Is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a personality theory that characterizes nine distinct strategies by which the human psyche develops a worldview and relates to the self and others. The theory proposes that by adulthood, individuals have developed a predominant personality strategy to cope with the external environment.
Each of the nine core "types" described by the Enneagram has an associated basic fear, basic desire, and predictable pattern of behavior in times of stress and security.
The Enneagram uses these basic fears and desires to describe the essential motivations underlying much of the resulting behavior. It thus captures a range of behavior for each type and is capable of providing a great deal of insight into an individual's underlying psychological wellness.