Type 8 Initial Self-Belief: “I am disempowered as I am.”

Type 8 Compensation: "I must be direct in going after what I want and stand strong against being controlled or taken advantage of."

Type 8 Core Focus: Empowerment comes from being in control and not being controlled by people or rules. This requires that I confront obstacles and people that are in my way and move directly toward what I want. Don't show weakness in a world that takes advantage of innocence and vulnerability.

Personality characteristics that might arise from the type 8 core focus include:

• Takes action decisively and sometimes impulsively
• Fills up the space around them with their presence and big energy
• Speaks directly and bluntly when making a point
• Often guards against vulnerability by denying softer emotions
• Naturally assumes role of leadership when there's a power vacuum
• Directly confronts others to reveal the truth of a situation
• Protects or seeks justice for those unfairly taken advantage of
• Anger arises in service of making things happen/getting things moving
• Prefers to make their own rules rather than follow others' rules

8 wing 7 (8w7) - preferred 7 wing
Common Name: The Independent

• more active and goal oriented
• more aggressive and competitive
• more impatient and impulsive

8 wing 9 (8w9) - preferred 9 wing
Common Name: The Bear

• more laid-back and grounded
• more reserved and steady
• more prone to comfort and routine

The Eight with a Seven-Wing: The Independent
Having a quick mind combined with a vision for practical possibilities, people of this subtype are often charismatic and able to attract the support of others to join them in their vision. They are more openly aggressive and confrontational and less likely to back down from a fight.¹

The Eight with a Nine-Wing: The Bear
They are noticeably steadier in the pursuit of their aims and are not as openly aggressive or as easily perturbed as other Eights. People of this subtype generally like to live quietly and unobtrusively, preferring to control their affairs from behind the scenes.¹

Eight with a Seven Wing (8w7): Playful and roguish, these Eights live large and express their fiery side. They are outwardly ambitious and value their independence.²

Eight with a Nine Wing (8w9): Gentler and steadier, these Eights wield a solid sense of confidence and groundedness. They are often quietly protective.²

Eights with a Seven wing may be more high-spirited, independent, and adventurous.³

Eights with a Nine wing may be warmer, calmer, and more consensually oriented.³

Eights with a Seven wing (8w7) are outgoing, energetic and fun, reflecting the Seven’s sunny personality. They are also ambitious, impulsive and sometimes reckless. These Eights live life to the fullest.⁴

Eights with a Nine wing (8w9) have a more measured approach to life. They are more approachable and more open to cooperation over competition, in keeping with the Nine’s tendency to play a peacemaking role.⁴

Eights with a more developed Seven wing tend to be more extroverted, enterprising, energetic, quick, and egocentric.⁵

Eights with a more developed Nine wing tend to be more mild-mannered, gentle, receptive, and quietly strong.⁵

Eight With a 7 Wing
Sometimes driven to bring the new into being. Can be visionary, idealistic, enterprising. Willing to take risks. May think more clearly than Eights with a 9 wing; 7 wing brings an intellectual capacity.⁶

Eight With a 9 Wing
May be gentle, kind-hearted, quieter. May radiate an implicit, simmering anger rather like a sleeping volcano. Slow to erupt but when they do it’s sudden and explosive.⁶

¹Book: The Wisdom of the Enneagram

²Book: The Modern Enneagram

³Book: Bringing Out The Best In Yourself At Work

⁴Book: The Road Back to You

⁵Book: The Enneagram Made Easy

⁶Book: The Enneagram Movie & Video Guide

Enneagram Type with Wing Test
This is a very short test that determines your most likely type and preferred wing.
Select from paragraphs, similar to the method used by the
Essential Enneagram Test as found in The Essential Enneagram book.
Use when you want to know your type and preferred wing.

Enneagram Type Preference Test
This test produces a scored list of all nine types.
Questions are forced-choice, similar to the method used by the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indictor (RHETI).
Use to determine type, wings, gut/heart/head types, and tri-center.

Enneagram Wing Comparison Test
This test compares the two wings of any type, producing a score for each wing.
Use when you know your type but not your preferred wing.

Enneagram Type Comparison Test
This test compares any two types, producing a score for each.
Use when not sure which of two types is your primary type and which is your preferred wing type.