Enneagram Test Enneagram Knowledge Check 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which historical figure is often cited as a primary source of the Enneagram symbol's introduction to the West in the 20th century?
- Carl Jung
- George Gurdjieff (Correct answer)
- Sigmund Freud
- Abraham Maslow
Correct answer: George Gurdjieff
George Gurdjieff introduced the Enneagram symbol to the West in the early 20th century as part of his esoteric teachings, though he did not explicitly connect it to personality types.
Question 2: Type 4, 'The Individualist,' most typically struggles with which core emotion?
- Fear
- Shame and envy (Correct answer)
- Anger and resentment
- Anxiety and doubt
Correct answer: Shame and envy
Type 4's central emotional issue involves shame around feeling fundamentally defective and envy of others who seem to have what they lack.
Question 3: In Enneagram typing, 'counterphobic Type 6' refers to someone who:
- Avoids all fear by withdrawing from society
- Confronts feared situations head-on as a way of managing anxiety (Correct answer)
- Never experiences anxiety or doubt
- Moves toward Type 9 behaviors under stress
Correct answer: Confronts feared situations head-on as a way of managing anxiety
Counterphobic sixes actively confront what they fear, sometimes appearing bold or reckless, as a defense mechanism against underlying anxiety.
Question 4: Which Enneagram type is most associated with the 'Holy Idea' of Holy Love, reflecting unconditional care without ego-driven motives?
- Type 2 (Correct answer)
- Type 9
- Type 4
- Type 6
Correct answer: Type 2
Type 2's Holy Idea is Holy Will/Freedom, but the virtue associated with healthy Type 2 is Humility; Holy Love is the essence that emerges when Type 2 transcends their pride.
Question 5: Which pair of Enneagram types are connected by an inner line (not adjacent wings) on the symbol?
- Types 1 and 7 (Correct answer)
- Types 2 and 3
- Types 5 and 6
- Types 8 and 9
Correct answer: Types 1 and 7
Types 1 and 7 are connected by one of the inner lines of the Enneagram, forming each other's stress and growth arrows.
Question 6: The Enneagram term 'essence' most nearly refers to:
- The core personality type determined at birth
- The authentic self beneath ego fixations (Correct answer)
- The dominant wing influencing a type
- The passion that drives unhealthy behavior
Correct answer: The authentic self beneath ego fixations
In Enneagram spirituality, 'essence' refers to a person's true, unconditioned nature that exists beneath the personality structure and ego defenses.
Question 7: Type 3w2 (Three with a Two wing) is commonly called what nickname?
- The Professional
- The Charmer (Correct answer)
- The Expert
- The Performer
Correct answer: The Charmer
Type 3w2 is nicknamed 'The Charmer' because the Two wing adds warmth, people-orientation, and interpersonal skill to Type 3's drive for achievement.
Which historical figure is often cited as a primary source of the Enneagram symbol's introduction to the West in the 20th century?