The Enneagram personality theory is a wonderful tool for writers. Beneath the surface of the system’s nine types, you can find development guides that include all the working parts of solid transformational character arcs. Last week, we discussed the positive character arcs in the Enneagram. Today, we’re going to look at the flipside: nine negative character arcs in the Enneagram system.
Personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson (affiliate link)
As a personal-development tool, the Enneagram can help us identify, first, which of the nine types best suits our own tendencies. From there, we can use it to bring awareness to any number of our own pain points, growth factors, and potential blind spots.
But there’s much more to the Enneagram than just that. Particularly as presented by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson in their groundbreaking book Personality Types, the Enneagram also offers several vertical maps of progression and regression within each type. In short, it can offer hints as to where someone (ourselves or our characters) may be sitting within a spectrum of mental and emotional health.
>>Click here to read “5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters”
Creating Character Arcs (Amazon affiliate link)
For our personal use, the Enneagram can help us move higher up the ladder toward optimal health—to achieve positive character arcs. That’s what we looked at last week. As authors, however, we also sometimes need to write about characters who are headed in the opposite direction—away from health. In character-arc speak, the thematic movements of a positively arcing character will be away from a Lie or limiting belief and toward a more expansive and liberating Truth. Meanwhile, a negatively arcing character will be moving away from the story’s posited thematic Truth.
9 Negative Character Arcs in the Enneagram
The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson (affiliate link)
If you’re unsure what character arc and theme you want to explore in your story, the Enneagram can help you identify the character arcs—both positive and negative—that are most organic to certain personality types. As I discussed in the last post, the Enneagram system is a deep well to dive into, full of many complexities. What’s in this post is the barest ripple on its surface, based on my years’ long personal study and growth within the system and particularly on the type comparisons and descriptors found in Riso and Hudson’s book The Wisdom of the Enneagram.
In that book, they introduce the Enneagram like this:
The core truth that the Enneagram conveys to us is that we are much more than our personality. Our personalities are no more than the familiar, conditioned parts of a much wider range of potentials that we all possess.
The nine personality types of the Enneagram.
Today, we’re going to take a quick look at the dark side. What happens when someone—a character in your story—is unable to move beyond the limiting beliefs ingrained in his personality? What if, in fact, this character gives in to his fears, pains, delusions, and shadows? The result will be a negative character arc (whether large or small). Following are key things to keep in mind about the possible devolution of each of the nine Enneagram types, should you choose to use them in your stories.
(As mentioned in the previous post, if you’re interested in further study, I also recommend the books The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile and The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut, as well as these authors’ respective podcasts “The Enneagram Journey” by Suzanne Stabile and “Enneagram 2.0” by Beatrice Chesnut and Uranio Paes. Stabile’s interview with Russ Hudson, “The 9 Virtues and Passions,” is a great place to start diving into the deeper aspects of the theory.)
1. The Reformer’s Negative Arc: From Resentment to Tyranny
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You are good.”
Type Ones’ native desire to bring integrity to themselves and the world around them can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they are, in fact, inherently bad or corrupt in some way. This pushes these characters toward perfectionism, first in small ways, and then, if unchecked, into an obsessive tyranny that desires to control others as well. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is their tendency to judge or condemn both themselves and others.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they are personally responsible or obligated to fix “everything.” If these tendencies are left unchecked, Ones may begin manipulating others by offering “correction” that attempts to bring others into line with their own personal beliefs and standards. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting all the “badness” they fear in themselves onto others and taking it upon themselves to mete out punishment.
Type One: R’as Al Ghul in Batman Begins (all character examples typed by Charity Bishop of the great personality Tumblr Funky MBTI Fiction).
2. The Helper’s Negative Arc: From Pride to Manipulation
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You are wanted.”
Type Twos’ native desire to love and be loved can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they are, in fact, unworthy of love. Defensively, these characters then begin to over-give to others and to over-value this service (a source of “pride”), as they conflate the “need to be needed” with their true need of love. If unchecked, this need to be recognized by others can devolve into outright manipulation of others’ needs and emotions. An early sign that this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is their tendency to under-value their own needs at the expense of others’.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they must give more and more in order to win the admiration, approval, and love of others. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Twos may begin manipulating others by seeking to create dependencies—making themselves indispensable so others “cannot live without them.” In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting all the “unlovedness” they fear in themselves onto others, causing others to feel they too are unworthy unless they can, in turn, prove their love to the Two.
Type Two: Cynthia Kirkpatrick in Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
3. The Achiever’s Negative Arc: From Vanity to Grandiosity
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You are loved for yourself.”
Type Threes’ native desire to offer value to the world can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they are, in fact, without inherent value–that their only value is what they do, not who they are. Defensively, these characters then begin to chase after success and external affirmation as a way of pumping up their own self-image. If unchecked, this image-consciousness can devolve into delusions of grandeur. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is their tendency to hide their authentic selves by trying to become an “ideal.”
This may lead them further into the Lie that they must climb higher and higher on the ladder of power, prestige, and success. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Threes may begin manipulating others by adopting whatever mask will be most acceptable or charming, allowing them to push toward their own end goals. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up arrogantly projecting all the unworthiness they fear in themselves onto others, believing they are better than others and treating them with contempt.
Type Three: Cal Hockley in Titanic
4. The Individualist’s Negative Arc: From Envy to Self-Obsession
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You are seen for who you are.”
Type Fours’ native desire to be authentically themselves can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they have no true personal significance or identity. Defensively, these characters then begin to hide behind a victim mentality that leads them to envy the “perfect” lives of others, or to hide behind romantic daydreams about what their lives could be. If unchecked, this envy can devolve into self-indulgence and self-obsession. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is a tendency to turn inward, refusing to move past injuries and even seeking to intensify their feelings.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they are somehow too special or unique for the rest of the world to ever understand or appreciate. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Fours may begin manipulating others by becoming more and more temperamental, demanding others treat them with kid gloves. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting the fear that they are “nobodies” onto the world around them, treating others with disdain.
Type Four: Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary
5. The Investigator’s Negative Arc: From Avarice to Reclusion
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “Your needs are not a problem.”
Type Fives’ native desire for competency and usefulness can become complicated by the unconscious fear that they lack the ability to interface with the world. Defensively, these characters then begin to conserve their personal resources (“avarice”), believing the world will demand too much from them. If unchecked, this lack mentality can devolve into self-imposed isolation. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is their tendency to overthink their own personal experiences and to value the subjective over the objective.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they cannot risk giving away too much of themselves—their time, their energy, or their expertise—to an unappreciative and unrewarding world. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Fives may begin manipulating others by detaching emotionally and retreating into their own preoccupations. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting their fear of their incompetence onto the world around them, in turn making others feel stupid.
Type Five: Saruman in The Lord of the Rings
6. The Loyalist’s Negative Arc: From Anxiety to Dogmatism
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You are safe.”
Type Sixes’ native desire for safety and security can become complicated by the unconscious fear that they are unable to offer themselves the support and guidance they need in order to feel safe. Defensively, these characters then begin to increasingly rely on external authorities and systems of belief. If unchecked, their anxiety can devolve into a frantic adherence to dogma. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is the tendency to make themselves dependent on people or systems who are “stronger” than themselves.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they are incapable of thinking for themselves or even taking care of themselves without external aid. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Sixes may begin manipulating others by complaining and testing their loyalties. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting their fears onto the world around them, in turn undermining the strength and faith of others, seeking to render them helpless.
Type Six: Elizabeth Poldark from Poldark
7. The Enthusiast’s Negative Arc: From Gluttony to Escapism
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You will be taken care of.”
Type Sevens’ native desire for happiness can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they are, in fact, likely to suffer deprivation or pain. Defensively, these characters fixate on seeking positive experiences (to the point of “gluttony”) and avoiding any and all negative experiences. If unchecked, this desire for fun and abundance can devolve into hedonistic escapism. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is the tendency to fixate on a happy future (to the exclusion of the past or present) by counting down their lives to the “next good thing.”
This may lead them further into the Lie that their best life is always someplace else, over the horizon, and just out of reach. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Sevens may begin manipulating others by distracting them from “real” issues or from negative situations they do not wish to acknowledge. In cases of extreme unhealth, Sevens may end up projecting their fear of being trapped onto the world around them, in turn making others feel trapped or deprived in some way.
Type Seven: Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky in Anna Karenina
8. The Challenger’s Arc: From Intensity to Violence
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “You will not be betrayed.”
Type Eights’ native desire to feel protected and self-sovereign can become complicated by the unconscious fear that they are vulnerable to being controlled or harmed by others. Defensively, these characters push back as a way of feeling their own strength and invulnerability. If unchecked, this desire to feel safe via the intensity of their own experiences can devolve into reflexive aggression. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is the tendency to try to forcefully control everything and everyone in their lives.
This may lead them further into the Lie that they must struggle in order to accomplish anything. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Eights may begin manipulating others by exerting dominance over them and using force (even if just the force of intense personality) to get others to comply with their demands. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting their fear of being harmed or controlled onto the world around them, in turn bullying others into submission.
Type Eight: Katherine Pierce in The Vampire Diaries
9. The Peacemaker’s Negative Arc: From Apathy to Disassociation
Core Truth the Character Fails to Believe: “Your presence matters.”
Type Nines’ native desire to be at peace with everyone and everything can become complicated by an unconscious fear that they are, in fact, irreparably separate from others. Defensively, these characters sink into lethargy and apathy as a means of avoiding the pain of conflict. If unchecked, this desire to avoid conflict can devolve into a failure to stand up for themselves or issues they believe in. An early sign this character may be at the beginning of an arc (whether positive or negative) is the tendency to avoid allowing themselves to feel impacted or affected by their experiences of the world.
This may lead them further into the Lie that in order to avoid the further separation they feel when in disagreement with others, they should suppress their own needs and identities to avoid conflict. If these tendencies are left unchecked, Nines may begin manipulating others through passive resistance and by ignoring the realities of certain situations. In cases of extreme unhealth, they may end up projecting the fear that they will lose connection with others onto the world around them, in turn cutting off connection with those who love them.
Type Nine: Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones
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The seeds for negative character arcs in the Enneagram are just as rich as are those for positive arcs. It’s important to note that although these negative tendencies represent core struggles for the types, the presence of these traits or inclinations are not, in themselves, indications someone is on a “negative arc.” Indeed, as noted throughout, the negative aspects of a type will be present at the beginning of both negative arcs and positive arcs.
Whether you choose to take your characters on a positive journey out of their shadow selves or on a negative journey deeper into their darkest possibilities is up to you and the stories you’re wanting to tell.
For more on the deep complexities of each type’s development and potential, I recommend checking out some of the wonderful resources mentioned above.
Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! Do you think you might ever write one of the negative character arcs in the Enneagram? Tell me in the comments!
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Author: K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland