Enneagram Type 4

The Individualist

The Individualist

enneagram Fours belong to the Heart Centre. They possess an acute sense of their own feelings and that of others. This includes having an intuitive ability to distinguish between subtle emotions that others often miss since they do give focused eye-contact. They are motivated by the need to understand and to be understood, and desire experiences that are meaningful and deep. There is little patience for the ordinary and it is no wonder then that there is a deep appreciation for expression of self through being musical, artistic and eloquent in speech.

As Jerome Wagner would say, they are able to explore the “sweet sadness” that most people might veer away from, i.e. their deep appreciation for an emotion most of us would want to run away from. There is frequently a preoccupation with thinking about how different they are from others, sometimes even frequently pointing out how they might not be part of their own family. This can sometimes lead to their own self-inflicted isolation from others as they further pursue their own authenticity and special-ness.

Early Childhood of Enneagram Type 4

Early Childhood

Type Four children can frequently feel that they felt some kind of abandonment by one or both caretakers. This could have come in the form of being passed on to someone else to be cared for, the parents being divorced at a young age or left to fend for themselves by busy parents. Hence, they felt alone, cut off from the source of love for reasons they could not comprehend. This sense of loneliness caused them to feel isolated and their feelings not validated by those who had a duty to take care of them. As a result, they turned inward to their feelings and imagination to cope. The response of many Fours was to use the depths of these painful feelings to be different from others and stand out from leading a normal life.

Enneagram Type 5

Strengths of the Enneagram Type 4

Limitations of Enneagram Type 4

Any type becomes Unresourceful when they begin to over-do some of the thoughts and behaviours that are typical of the type.

Reflections for the Enneagram Type 4

Subtypes for the Enneagram Type 4

Known as The Creative Individualist and their Vulnerabilities / Vices is Reckless or Dauntless. They are less sensitive and are willing to jump into new situations or take actions that seem reckless but in an unorthodox or creative style.

Known as The Dramatic Person and their Vulnerabilities / Vices is Competition. They are competitive to overcome their feelings of deficiency and can have an intense reaction by being more vocal and demanding.

Known as The Critical Commentator and their Vulnerabilities / Vices is Shame or Honor. They are more sensitive and feel more envy toward other people’s status. They seek more authenticity and integrity of social groups.

Read more on the 27 Sub Types here.

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